NEW DELHI: Cricket will make its much-anticipated return to the Olympic Games after a hiatus of 128 years, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed.
The sport will make a comeback at the next Olympics where six teams will battle it out for glory. It will feature both the men's and women's events which will see a total of 90 players taking part in each event. This means that every team will be able to name a 15-member squad for the mega event.
Cricket will be played in the T20 format, the shortest format of the game, at the worlds grandest sporting extravaganza set to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Cricket last featured at the Olympics in the 1900 edition of the Games in Paris, where a one-off, two-day match between Great Britain and France was held, which is now recognised as an unofficial Test.
However, the qualification process for cricket at the Olympics have not yet been finalized but USA are likely to secure a direct entry into the tournament as it is the host nation, thereby implying that only five teams will be allowed to make the final cut through the qualification process.
It is worth mentioning that ICC Chairman Jay Shah is already deliberating on a long-term strategy to ensure cricket's presence in future Olympic Games, including Brisbane 2032. The former BCCI secretary played a key role in the campaign to bring cricket to the Olympic stage in 2028.
Meanwhile, Cricket is one of five new sports that will be included in the Los Angeles Olympics, alongside squash, flag football, baseball/softball, and lacrosse.
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