A shocking declaration was made recently that cricket would not be featured in the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG), scheduled to be played from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow. Cricket has been included in the 2022 CWG, where women’s T20 matches were played. The list of sports on which the 2026 Games will be held comprises a meagre 10.
Official reasons for cricket’s exclusion have not been issued; however, the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Katie Sadleir, said, “The 2026 Games would be a ‘bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow.’ They will cost less, reduce waste and carbon emissions and better engage with the community.”
Such comments of a CEO related to future prospects of an event might suggest that perhaps the exclusion was due to either budgetary constraints or something more streamlined had to be fitted into the required mould.
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In his insight, Sadleir further noted that this would open up the games to a lot more nations able to be “host” countries in the future. Reports indicate financial constraints might be why many sports did not feature in the 2026 Games and possibly future Games editions.
Cricket not to be part of Commowealth Games 2026
Why not 🥴#CommonwealthSport #commonwealthgames pic.twitter.com/xdbCiWCTQC— Pukhraj Choudhary (@PukhrajChangal1) October 22, 2024
Though cricket will not make an appearance at the 2026 CWG, it is back on the world stage after a wait of 128 years at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The competition will include men’s and women’s T20 matches. Cricket has been seen in other multi-sport events recently too; for instance, at the 2022 CWG where Australia won the gold in women’s cricket by defeating India. Another sport that India won gold in, were the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
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Director of the LA2028 local organizing committee, Niccolo Campriani said that featuring cricket in the Olympics confirms cricket’s increasing popularity, especially in America. He pointed to Major League Cricket, which got pretty popular, and to T20 World Cup, an event scheduled for 2024 where teams from this region would be playing in the same tournament.
