ICC to prepare and push for Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics.
The wait of cricket fans all across the globe could end in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the global cricket body, International Cricket Council (ICC), is working keenly to have set a working group to induct cricket in the Olympic games. The ICC has confirmed the development and has all the intentions to push the sport forward.
It is worth noting that cricket was a part of the Olympics back in 1900 when France played against Great Britain, however, the sport could not lead a healthy foundation to make it a permanent sport at the Olympics.
The decision of the ICC is backed by the richest cricket body, BCCI, as indicated by secretary Jay Shah earlier. If both the cricket bodies manage to bring the Olympic officials on the same page, it will be a massive win for the sport of cricket.
“Our sport is united behind this bid,” ICC chair Greg Barkley said in a press release on Tuesday, “And we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future. We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 per cent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics.
He further said that the USA has almost 30 million cricket fans and they will be happy to see their cricketing heroes fighting for the Olympic medal in LA Olympics 2028.
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“There are also 30 million cricket fans in the USA. The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalising.”
The ICC’s working group to push cricket for the Olympics will be chaired by ECB board chair Ian Watmore along with ICC independent director Indra Nooyi, ICC Associate member director and vice-president of the Asian Cricket Council Mahinda Vallipuram, chair of Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, and chair of USA Cricket Paraag Marathe.
It will not be a sweet task for the working group to achieve but if they manage to accomplish it, it will be a huge success for all the cricket playing nations and their fans. The hopes of millions of cricket fans since 1900 will come alive if the sport of cricket is staged in the LA Olympics 2028 and beyond.
There will be certain hardships to induct cricket in the Olympics, majorly, the time it takes to complete one game and the influence of external factors like weather and climate. However, these can be controlled with a strong action plan in place.
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