Cricket Eyes Inclusion in Brisbane Olympics, Yet Challenges Persist Regarding Los Angeles 2028 Games
Cricket Eyes Inclusion in Brisbane Olympics, Yet Challenges Persist Regarding Los Angeles 2028 Games
In one of his initial ventures leading global cricket, influential figure Jay Shah traveled to Brisbane, a city in the northeast Australia, recently. His aim was to advocate for cricket's presence in the 2032 Olympic Games.
As the new head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Shah met with Cindy Hook, the chief of the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee, and Nick Hockley, the head of Cricket Australia. The encounter was hardly a secret affair.
News about the meeting found its way to the Indian media prior to Shah's announcement, which he shared on his social media account in a style reminiscent of blockbuster movie director Michael Bay.
"Exciting times ahead for cricket in the Olympic movement - meeting with the @Brisbane_2032 team in Brisbane, Australia today," Shah declared in his post.
The reign of cricket's influential figures has entered a new phase under Shah, who has held significant power in the cricket world for years as the chief of the Indian cricket board.
Following the modest rule of Greg Barclay, a pragmatic New Zealander who kept a low profile, Shah has taken the helm of the ICC and intends to shape it according to his vision. There's a sense of skepticism as to whether he will bring positive changes to international cricket, but Shah is eager to tackle major concerns. The Olympics is his initial focus.
Cricket has not featured in the Olympics since 1900, primarily due to financial reluctance from powerful countries such as India and England. Attitudes began to shift during the last decade, and an ICC working group was established in 2020 by Imran Khwaja, the interim chair, with the objective of reintroducing cricket to the Olympics.
The process was time-consuming, but Shah ultimately joined the Olympics committee, and it is thought that his influence and securing the backing of India played a vital role in cricket securing a spot in the Los Angeles Olympics.
Cricket's return to Brisbane, although highly likely given the sport's popularity in Australia, remains a challenge. However, politicking still needs to take place to ensure cricket's inclusion.
What requires urgent attention is the logistics of cricket's participation in Los Angeles. The event could either make or break cricket's position in the Olympics.
There's uncertainty about whether the cricket competition will be held on the west coast, despite the efforts of administrators in several cities. If not, the tournament might be moved to the east coast of the U.S to maximize viewership in India.
New York is a potential host, having hosted eight T20 World Cup matches at its $30 million modular stadium in Long Island. The cricket ground was dismantled following the tournament, but billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the owner of MI New York, has reportedly planned to construct a world-class facility in the city.
Other cities, such as those representing Major League Cricket franchises like the San Francisco Unicorns and Seattle Orcas, are also eyeing an opportunity to host Olympics matches.
It's not just about deciding the venue, but also the qualification format is still undecided. There have been suggestions that Olympic spots should be awarded to the top six in the ICC's men's and women's T20 rankings at a specific cut-off date. However, there's strong support for a T20 qualification tournament to determine which nations make the cut.
The number of teams and their qualification routes are expected to be finalized when the event program and athlete quotas are confirmed for the 2028 Olympics next year. These are matters that will require close consideration for Shah, as the Los Angeles Games represents a significant event in his tenure under the spotlight.
In his pursuit to bring cricket back into the Olympic Games, Jay Shah met with figures from the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee and Cricket Australia, discussing potential business opportunities and strategies to secure cricket's inclusion. With cricket's return to the Olympic Games likely to significantly impact the sport's financial possibilities, Shah's focus on this venture also implicates sports business considerations.