The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally backed the proposal of including cricket in the Olympics. The richest cricket board in the world now wants cricket to become a part of the world’s biggest sporting event. It was way back in 1900 when cricket featured in the Olympic games in Paris. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been pushing for the inclusion of cricket in the mega event for the 2028 Olympic games slated to be played in Los Angeles.
BCCI was earlier apprehensive about the idea of pushing for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic games as they had feared that it might lose its autonomy which might have a bearing in the decision making and they might become answerable to the country’s Olympic committee. However, they have changed its stance recently after a virtual Apx Committee meeting on Friday.
"We are exploring that opportunity," BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal was quoted as saying by Reuters during a telephonic interview.
"We're keen but how the modalities would be worked out, we're working on that aspect,” he added.
Meanwhile, it must also be noted that BCCI has agreed to send their women’s team to the Commonwealth Games slated to be played in Birmingham next year. Cricket had first been a part of the Commonwealth Games back in 1998 when the South African men’s team won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.
Arun Singh Dhumal further stated that the council has short-listed the venues which will host the T20 World Cup in India later this year. "We're discussing it with the ICC, it's a work in progress," he said.