Cricket Returns to the 2028 Olympics!

Cricket is making a comeback to the Olympics. The sport will once again feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland have already initiated preliminary discussions on how to represent cricket at the Olympics.

Cricket has been absent from the Olympics for many years. However, towards the end of last year, the sport received approval to be included in the Games. Details such as the format of the matches and the number of participating teams are yet to be decided.

In the Olympics, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland usually compete as a single team under the banner of Great Britain. In cricket, however, these countries traditionally compete as separate teams. For Olympic cricket, they will unite and compete as one team, with the ECB leading the effort. Cricket Scotland is already planning to ensure that their players have opportunities to be selected for the Great Britain team.

An ECB representative stated in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, "The Los Angeles Olympics are still four years away. Team formation is in its very early stages, but we are in discussions with Cricket Scotland about the next steps. Just as Great Britain’s Olympians embraced the spirit of nationalism during their achievements in Paris this year, we are eager to work together for the competition when cricket returns to the Olympic stage in 2028."

Andy Anson, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association, commented, "We have gained valuable experience in bringing the four nations together in events like golf, rugby, and women’s football. The approach of designating one country as the lead governing body and collaborating with others should apply to cricket as well."

He further added, "The ECB will be at the center of team formation. To ensure everything is done correctly, we must work closely with Cricket Scotland. We will assist them in coming together and signing agreements. As with other sports, we are working very closely with the ECB to ensure they can fully integrate as a member of the National Olympic Committee."