Published 15:04 IST, October 29th 2020
Cricket in Olympics to become reality? ICC ramps up demand despite past BCCI opposition
The ICC has reportedly once again ramped up its efforts to discuss the possibility of including Cricket in Olympics in the near future.
Advertisement
Cricket fans waiting to see the game being played at the Olympics have been handed a boost, with the latest reports suggesting that the ICC is looking into the possibility once again. The body has recently asked all its members to evaluate the potential financial benefits of including the sport in the Olympics. While the same exercise has been undertaken in the past, the latest efforts made by the ICC hint that the body is ramping up its efforts to make Cricket in Olympics a reality.
Also Read: BCCI Official Roasts PCB CEO For Seeking 'visa Assurances' From ICC For T20 World Cup 2021
ICC asks for reports on the viability of Cricket in Olympics
Media reports revealed that a questionnaire has been sent by the council to all ICC members which ask them to quantify the potential financial support each member can get from government bodies and Olympics organisations if Cricket in Olympics becomes a reality. Notably, ICC’s communication also specifically asks members to consider the scenario if the sport is concluded on a permanent or a one-off basis. The ICC is yet to agree on future tours programme beyond 2023, which is also the year when Cricket World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place in India. The form in question needs to be returned by November 3, with discussions set to take place on the same at the next ICC board meetings later in the month.
BCCI and others need to be convinced for Cricket in Olympics option
While the ICC has been lobbying to include the game in the Olympics in a bid to improve the popularity of the sport, the option has faced a backlash from the bigger cricket playing nations. In 2018, ICC CEO Dave Richardson had admitted that the council is looking to include cricket in the 2028 Olympics. However, Richardson had then conceded that they would have to convince the BCCI that it is a good thing for cricket to be included in the Olympics from all aspects.
Hence the apathy among ICC and FM administrators to get cricket into the Olympics. There is not much desire to spread the game, mostly for short sighted and selfish financial reasons. Admins would rather have a big slice of a small pie rather than grow a massive pie.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 21, 2020
The problem is that much of the cricket community lives in an echo chamber that deludes itself into thinking cricket is more popular than it is. Consequently leading administrators rest on their imagined laurels rather than working harder to expand the sport's scope and reach.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) October 21, 2020
A report in ESPNcricinfo discussing the possibility of Cricket in Olympics also revealed that India, England and Australia have the most to lose if the sport makes an appearance at the Olympics. In the past, the bigger nations have argued that inclusion of the sport will eat into the schedule for bilateral series, thus hampering their operations. In light of the recent developments, it remains to be seen what the results of the questionnaire reveal. Notably, 87% of the fans had voted in favour of cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics during a survey conducted by ICC in 2018. Till now, the sport has made a solitary appearance at the 1900 Paris Olympics where Great Britain defeated France by 158 runs.
Image Credits: ICC website
15:01 IST, October 29th 2020