The International
Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed its plans to bid for the sport’s entry into
the Olympics, having started preparations to get it included in the 2028 Los Angeles
Games. A Working Group has been convened by the ICC to lead the bid on behalf of
the sport, to be led by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Ian Watmore.

The sport
will be a part of the itinerary for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games,
which “shapes as a perfect showcase for what the sport can bring to the
Olympics, as well as being a momentous occasion on its own,” the cricket body
said in a statement.

Cricket has
featured only once at the Olympics, back in the 1990 Paris Games – when only
two nations participated, Great Britain and hosts France. This means the sport if
approved, the sport will return to the Games in 2028 after a 128-year hiatus.

“Thirty-million
cricket fans live in the USA, making LA 2028 the ideal Games for cricket to
make its return to Olympic competition,” ICC said.

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ICC chairman
Gregg Barclay said that the addition of cricket in the Olympics will be beneficial
to both the sport and the Games.

“Our sport
is united behind this bid, 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
percent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics,” Barclay said.

“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.” 

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The BCCI
has also approved plans for the sport’s inclusion at the Olympics, according to
Cricbuzz. Traditionally against such moves to include the sport in Olympics,
for more administrative and commercial reasons, the BCCI has recently changed
its stance on the matter since Jay Shah took control.

Meanwhile, the
Working Group will also include ICC Independent Director Indra Nooyi, Chair of
Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, ICC Associate Member Director and Vice
President of the Asian Cricket Council Mahinda Vallipuram and Chair of USA
Cricket Parag Marathe.