Cricket in the Olympics has been a dream since 1900 when the world witnessed the first match in this prestigious global event. It looks like this dream of many is about to be fulfilled as ICC is preparing to include the game in the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Yes, you read it correctly. If it happens, the 128 years of wait to see cricketers playing for the global event will be over.
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
The decision would be helpful in several ways besides winning gold medals. The main reason for considering its inclusion is its ability to attract a huge audience.
ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said almost all fans want to see cricket in the Olympics. It would be a great feeling to see our favorite players bringing gold for the country. Now the decision lies in the hands of the Olympic working group chaired by the Cricket board of England and Wales.
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Cricket Debut In The 1900 Paris Olympics
via:espncricinfo
Indian subcontinent alone contributes to 92 percent of the global cricket audience. However, this was not the case back in 1900 that led to halting the decision of adding cricket to the Olympics. But the game was a special one in history.
Check the highlights here
- Only 2 Teams, Great Britain and France Made their Debut In Olympics
- The teams had 24 players instead of the standard 11 players team
- The final score was 366 and the match continued for 2 days
- Great Britain won the match by 158 runs
- Surprisingly none of the teams won gold. The winning team got silver and France won bronze. In 1912, the medals were upgraded to gold and silver at the Summer Olympics.
If the Olympic committee agreed to the inclusion, it would be a new journey for the cricketers and fans. This would bring a huge surge in the popularity of the game. The US is already very excited about the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics and says it would help the country establish the game as a mainstream sport.
What are your thoughts on this decision? Share your views in the comments.