MCC World Cricket Committee chairman Mike Gatting has recently claimed that cricket can return in the Summer Olympics during the 2028 edition.
In the Summer Olympics history, cricket was only the part during the 1900 edition in Paris (only for men’s). Since then, it has never returned in the Summer Olympics till the date.
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However, in recent times, the global cricket body and many international cricket teams have wished to see cricket in the Olympics. The legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has also supported this view.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to come under the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). NADA is an affiliated agency of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). BCCI’s latest decision has put the cricket one step ahead to enter the process of returning in the Olympics.
Recently, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) World Cricket Committee chairman Mike Gatting has brought the good news for the cricket fans. He claimed that the ICC was hopeful to see cricket in the Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles.
Gatting claimed according to ESPNcricinfo, “We were talking with Manu Sawhney the ICC chief executive, and he was very hopeful we can get cricket into the 2028 Olympics.
“That’s what they’re working towards at the moment and that would be a huge bonus for cricket worldwide, it would be fantastic.”
It’s two weeks, that’s a good thing about it – Mike Gatting about the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics 2028
Mike Gatting has also added that the Olympic scheduling is very friendly for the cricket. It will be a two-week schedule once every four years.
The former English cricketer said, “It’s two weeks, that’s a good thing about it, it’s not a month, so it’s one of those (events) where scheduling for two weeks should be fine once every four years once you do the first one.
“You’re going to have – one hopes – a four-year period, once you know you’ve been accepted into the Olympics, that gives you a chance to actually shape your two weeks, so it’s not as if it is butted into the schedule.”
Gatting believes that the next one-and-a-half-year are very important to the progress of this game.
He added, “I think the next 18 months will be very interesting as to how we do that. One of the problems has been negated, where the BCCI is now working with NADA, the drugs agency, which it wasn’t previously a part of.
“That will help a long way towards the sport being whole, which is what we need it to be to apply for the Olympics, both men and women to play and all countries to comply.”
Recently, the women’s cricket has been included in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. After the 1998 edition, it will be the second time in CWG history where cricket will be a part. However, only men sides participated in the 1998 edition while only women sides will participate in the 2022 edition.