ICC Confirms To Push Cricket In Olympics, Will Vie For Spot In Los Angeles 2028

Cricket In Olympics: There will be an 'ICC Olympic Working Group' that will make sure that cricket is included in Lon Angeles Olympics 2028. Will India win the first cricket gold medal at LA 28?

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that it will push to include cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. The ICC announced this in a statement on their website. Cricket's main body has started "preparations for a bid" aiming for cricket's "addition to the Los Angeles 2028 itinerary". ICC Chair Greg Barclay believes that if cricket is introduced in Olympics, it will be "beneficial to both the sport and the Games."

Apart from the one-off match that was played between Great Britain and France in the 1900 Olympics, there hasn't been any cricket at the Olympic Games. 

The ICC is going to constitute an 'ICC Olympic Working Group' that will be chaired by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chair Ian Watmore, ICC Independent Director Indra Nooyi, Chair of Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, ICC Associate Member Director, and Vice President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Mahinda Vallipuram and Chair of USA Cricket Parag Marathe.

ICC can confirm its intention to push for cricket's inclusion in the @Olympics, with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles being the primary target.

More details 👇

— ICC (@ICC) August 10, 2021

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay was optimistic about cricket being included in the Olympics as "90% of the fans" want to see cricket at Olympic Games. He also assured of giving the best shot at the bid. “We believe cricket would be a great addition to the Olympic Games, but we know it won’t be easy to secure our inclusion as there are so many other great sports out there wanting to do the same. But we feel now is the time to put our best foot forward and show what a great partnership cricket and the Olympics are.” 

Parag Marathe, the chairman of USA Cricket sounded positive about including cricket in the Games. "With so many passionate cricket fans and players already in the USA, and a huge global audience and following for the sport around the world, we believe that cricket’s inclusion will add great value to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and help us to achieve our own vision for establishing cricket as a mainstream sport in this country," Marathe said as quoted by ICC.

Earlier this week, Secretary Jay Shah confirmed BCCI's stance on the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games. “Once cricket is added in the Olympics, India will be participating. The BCCI and the ICC are on the same page as far as participation in the Olympics is concerned,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah told Hindustan Times. 

Will we see India's cricket team in the USA's Los Angeles competing for a gold medal? What do you feel, do tell us in the comments.