ICC prepares application for inclusion of cricket in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics | cricket

The International Cricket Council is preparing an application for inclusion of the game in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the governing body announced on Tuesday.

Cricket was last seen at the Paris Olympics in 1900 and has rarely been played at other multisport events, which many believe is essential to the game’s growth outside the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Our sport is behind this bid and we see the Olympics as part of the long-term future of cricket,” ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said in a statement. “We have more than a billion fans worldwide and almost 90 percent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics.”

92% of cricket comes from South Asia, where it is the dominant sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Barclay said the game’s inclusion in the 2028 Games would be welcomed by the 30 million cricket fans in the United States.

“We believe cricket would be a great addition to the Olympics, but we know that securing our inclusion won’t be easy as there are so many other great sports out there wanting to do the same,” said the New Zealander.

“But we believe that now is the time to do our best and show what a great partnership cricket and the Olympics are.”

It comes a day after Netball Australia made a bold push to include netball for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Skateboarding, surfing and climbing were some of the new sports that made their Olympic debut in Tokyo with positive reviews. If cricket is included, it is likely the T20 format.

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The ICC has set up an Olympic Working Group chaired by England & Wales Cricket Board Chief Ian Watmore. They also include the former CEO of PepsiCo Inc, Indra Nooyi, and the head of USA Cricket, Parag Marathe.

“With so many passionate cricket fans and players already in the US and a huge global audience and following for the sport around the world, we believe the addition of cricket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will add great value said Marathe.