(Reuters) – Cricket’s bid for Olympic inclusion has received support from the Indian board who said it now wants to help the game become part of the world’s largest sporting extravaganza.
Cricket last appeared at the 1900 Olympics in Paris and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been pushing for content of the sport’s Twenty20 format at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
The Management Board of India (BCCI), the world’s richest cricket board, had previously expressed concerns about the idea, fearing that it might lose its autonomy and become accountable to the country’s Olympic committee.
The BCCI, however, appears to have changed its stance following a virtual meeting of the Apex Committee on Friday.
“We are exploring that opportunity,” BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters by phone.
“We are keen but how the manners would be worked out, we are working on that aspect.”
The BCCI also agreed to send its women’s team to next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Cricket made its first appearance at the 1998 Commonwealth Games when the South African men’s team won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.
Dhumal said the council had shortlisted locations for playing this year’s Twenty20 World Cup in India in October-November.
“We are discussing it with the NMW, it’s a work in progress,” he said.
Local media said that Narendra Modi Ahmedabad Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium with a capacity of 132,000, will host the final.