Some 128 years after its last appearance, cricket is getting closer to making a comeback in the Olympics. There is growing optimism that Gentleman’s Game will be included in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and beyond.
According to The Guardian, it is now “very likely” that men’s and women’s Twenty20 cricket will be included in the Olympics. The Olympic gold medals will be on the line in the sport after a long time, creating a potentially lucrative commercial market in the Asian subcontinent.
The proposed format calls for five teams to compete in each competition, with qualifying determined by the world rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Since a single gold medal match at the 1900 Games in Paris, there hasn’t been any Olympic cricket.
A women’s T20 tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham also marked the accomplishment of a long-term goal for the ICC, whose previous disregard for the Olympics has been replaced by a determination to grow the sport internationally in recent years.
The International Olympic Committee, which selected cricket as one of nine sports for LA 2028 along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, breakdancing, karate, kickboxing, squash, and racing, also has a big financial incentive.
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The present Olympic broadcast rights in India are auctioned for certain Games, and it is estimated that Paris 2024’s rights will only fetch £15.6 million ($20 million).
However, according to industry insiders who spoke to the Guardian, if cricket is included in LA in 2028 and subsequently Brisbane in 2032, this amount could be worth up to £150 million depending on the format and the number of guaranteed matches for India.
The only obstacle that is considered to be realistic is commercial agreements. However, it does mean that holding the men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June 2024 is essential.
England would compete as Team GB if cricket is chosen to compete in LA, a decision on which is anticipated before the end of the year. West Indies qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games through the rankings, and Barbados represented them after a regional qualifier.
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