In LA28, cricket will make a 'historic' return to the Olympics

On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), making cricket's historic return to the Olympics possible.

Cricket has been a part of the Olympics in the past, when England took on France in a one-off match in Paris in 1900, with the former winning gold.

Cricket's T20 format was chosen by the IOC, along with baseball/softball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse for the 2028 games.

Last week, the IOC's executive board approved the inclusion of the five sports proposed by the LA organisers.

At Monday's IOC session, only two delegates voted against the new sports.

Both men's and women's sports will be represented by six teams.

The United States will field teams as the host nation, but no decision has been made on how many teams will qualify.

As a result, it would be able to tap into the lucrative South Asian market, attracting fans in countries such as India and Pakistan.

Thanks to legions of fans and lucrative broadcasting deals in a nation where cricket is almost a religion, the Indian Premier League has helped India become the undisputed economic driving force of cricket.

Major League Cricket, a professional T20 league, started in the United States in July, with the US co-hosting next year's men's T20 World Cup with territories in the Caribbean.

ICC chairman Greg Barclay told reporters in Mumbai that cricket's inclusion in LA 2028 is a win-win situation.

As the fastest-growing global sport, getting onto the biggest sporting stage in the world, the Olympics, is a massive shot in the arm for the game."

Fans number 2.5 billion

In explaining the push for cricket's inclusion, Los Angeles 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman said: "Cricket is incredibly popular around the world. It is growing in the US.

A sport with 2.5 billion rabid fans coming to the world's greatest sports city is a powerful combination, we think."

Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, said the five new sports will "showcase iconic American sports to the world as well as bring international sports to the United States".

Flag football, a form of American football with limited contact, has been added to the list of newly included US sports.

The International Federation of American Football president, Pierre Trochet, said its inclusion in the programme would "provide the Games with a new dimension - uniting them with America's number one sport in its newest, most accessible and inclusive format for the first time in history".

After several failed attempts, squash finally made it onto the Olympic programme following Monday's vote.

According to World Squash Federation president Zena Wooldridge, squash is an "amazingly dynamic, diverse and demanding sport that is perfectly suited for the Olympics."

Boxing's status at the 2028 Games remains "on hold" after the IOC stripped the International Boxing Association (IBA) of its recognition following a dispute over the sport's governance.

A brief history of cricket in the Olympics

Cricket, a sport that has been enjoyed for centuries, is set to make its much-anticipated return to the Olympic Games in 2028. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced in 2019 that cricket will feature in the Los Angeles Olympics as a part of their effort to further globalize and popularize the sport.

But this won't be the first time cricket has been a part of the Olympics. In fact, cricket has a long and interesting history with the Games.

The first recorded instance of cricket being played at an Olympic event was during the Paris Olympics in 1900. However, it was not an official event but rather a side attraction between Britain and France.

It wasn't until 1912 when cricket officially made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Stockholm Games. Only two teams participated - Great Britain and Sweden – with Great Britain emerging as champions. This tournament marked the only time that cricket was included in both Summer and Winter Olympics, as it was held alongside ice hockey due to scheduling conflicts.

After its brief appearance in 1912, cricket unfortunately did not make another appearance at the Olympics until over a century later.

In 1996, there were discussions about including cricket in future Olympic Games due to its widespread popularity among commonwealth countries. However, these plans were eventually scrapped due to logistical issues and disagreements between different member countries on how teams would be selected.

The process of cricket's inclusion in the LA28 Olympics and the significance of this decision

The inclusion of cricket in the LA28 Olympics is a major milestone for the sport and has been a long-awaited decision by many. The process of cricket's inclusion in the Olympics has been a lengthy one, spanning over several years with various ups and downs. In this section, we will delve into the details of how cricket made its way to be included in one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world and why this decision holds great significance.

The journey towards cricket's inclusion in the LA28 Olympics began back in 2015 when it was first proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC saw it as an opportunity to globalize the sport and provide exposure to emerging cricketing nations. However, there were certain challenges that needed to be addressed before any progress could be made.

One of the major hurdles was getting approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which oversees all aspects related to Olympic Games. It was not an easy task as there were concerns about scheduling conflicts with other sports already included in the Olympics and also doubts about whether cricket would attract enough global interest.

To overcome these challenges, ICC took various steps such as revising rules to make matches shorter and more appealing to viewers, promoting women's cricket, and focusing on developing countries where cricket is still at a nascent stage. The growing popularity of T20 leagues like IPL and Big Bash also played a crucial role in showcasing how exciting and entertaining this format can be for audiences worldwide.

Players and teams to watch out for in the upcoming Olympics

Cricket is set to make its debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, and fans all over the world are excited for this historic moment. With only a few months left until the games begin, it's time to start looking at which players and teams will be ones to watch out for in this highly anticipated event.

1. India: 

As one of the top-performing teams in international cricket, India is definitely a team to keep an eye on during the Olympics. Led by captain Virat Kohli, they have a strong batting line-up with players like Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Their bowling attack also boasts of talented players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, making them a well-rounded team that can give any opponent a tough competition.

2. England:

 The current World Cup champions, England is another team that cannot be ignored in this list. Known for their aggressive style of play and powerful hitters like Jos Buttler and Jason Roy, they have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with in limited-overs cricket. Along with their star-studded batting line-up, they also have an experienced bowling attack led by Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes.

3. Australia: 

The Australian cricket team has always been considered one of the best in the world, and their performance in recent years has only solidified this reputation. With players like David Warner, Steve Smith, and Aaron Finch leading their batting department.