Cricket To Be Included In Olympics!

Good news for all, Women’s T20 cricket has now been confirmed for the medal sport for the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games happening in Birmingham. This was done after a majority of the 71 Games associations approved this move for including the sport in this event in place of sports like beach volleyball and Para-table tennis.

Manu Sawhney, Chief Executive of the ICC (International Cricket Council) said that it is truly one of the most historic moments for women’s cricket and also for the whole global cricket community, he further said that women’s cricket has always known to continue to go from strength to strength and he on behalf of ICC, honoured the Commonwealth Games Associations and personally voted for including Women’s T20 cricket at Birmingham 2022.

The Commonwealth Games inclusion is also witnessed as the first step which is taken towards an upcoming leap with the 2028 Olympic Games at Los Angeles which will be the next on the radar.

Interestingly, if we go back in the past, if cricket as a sport does make the cut, it would not have been the first time that the sport will be a part of the great Olympics. Way back around 1900, it was played in Olympics at Paris but there were only two teams - Great Britain and France.

One of the main and sole reasons that have been associated with Olympic sport is that if the cricket would enter in Olympics than it would mean BCCI will have to come under the Indian Olympic Association and will be recognised as a National Sporting Federation.

A BCCI member also quoted that he is confused that what will happen if they lose their autonomy but the situation is completely undesirable.

According to the reports, it is known that the ICC's global strategy survey resulted 87% of the cricket fans who want to see the sport to be played in the Olympics. It will further help new nations get back up of government funds.

Cricket has also been featured at multiple Asian Games, though India has always refused to send their team in these competitions.

By: Prerana Sharma

Content: https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/womens-cricket-confirmed-for-cwg-2022-2028-olympics-ambitions-on-radar-next-2269033.html