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Cricket made a successful return to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022 after a gap of 24 years, raising hopes that the sport would become a regular feature of the multi-sport event. However, fans will not see cricket at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the sport once again disappearing from the programme.
The decision has little to do with cricket's popularity. Instead, it is the result of financial challenges that forced the organisers to reduce the scale of the Games, leading to several major sports being dropped alongside cricket.
Why is cricket not part of the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Cricket is missing from the Commonwealth Games 2026 primarily because the tournament has been scaled down after the original host, Victoria in Australia, withdrew from hosting due to rapidly rising costs.
Following Victoria's withdrawal in 2023, the Commonwealth Games faced an uncertain future before Glasgow stepped in as the replacement host. However, instead of staging a full-scale event, organisers opted for a much smaller and more cost-effective edition to ensure the Games could still take place.
To reduce financial and operational expenses, Glasgow decided to use existing sporting venues, existing hotel accommodation instead of building an athletes' village, and a compact schedule spread across a limited number of venues.
As a result, the programme was reduced to 10 sports, with only athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3x3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo and boxing retained.
Several popular sports were removed, including:
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Badminton
- Wrestling
- Squash
- Table Tennis
- Triathlon
- Beach Volleyball
- Rugby Sevens
Importantly, cricket was not singled out for removal. It was one of several sports omitted as part of the organisers' effort to deliver a financially sustainable Games.
Another key reason is that cricket is an optional sport at the Commonwealth Games rather than a compulsory one. While core sports such as athletics and swimming are guaranteed a place at every edition, optional sports are selected by the host city based on available infrastructure, budgets and logistical feasibility.
Since Glasgow chose a leaner model using only existing facilities, cricket did not make the final programme.
Cricket at the Commonwealth Games: A brief history
| Edition | Format | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Kuala Lumpur | Men's ODI | South Africa | Australia | New Zealand |
| 2022 Birmingham | Women's T20 | Australia | India | New Zealand |
Cricket has enjoyed only two appearances in Commonwealth Games history. The sport first featured at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, where a men's 50-over tournament was held with 16 participating teams. South Africa defeated Australia in the final to win the gold medal, while New Zealand claimed bronze. India, despite fielding a strong side, failed to advance beyond the group stage.
Cricket then disappeared from the Games for more than two decades before returning at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Unlike 1998, Birmingham hosted only a women's T20 tournament, marking the first time women's cricket featured at the Games. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had strongly supported its inclusion, believing it would help grow the women's game while reaching a large Commonwealth audience.
The tournament proved to be a success. Australia defeated India in a thrilling final to win the gold medal, while New Zealand secured bronze after defeating England in the third-place playoff.
The successful event generated optimism that cricket had established a permanent place at the Commonwealth Games. However, the financial realities surrounding the 2026 edition meant those plans could not continue.
Will cricket return to the Commonwealth Games in the future?
Although cricket is absent from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, its long-term future at the event remains promising.
Since cricket is an optional Commonwealth Games sport, future host cities have the flexibility to propose its inclusion if suitable venues, infrastructure and budgets are available. A host with established cricket stadiums and strong financial backing could easily bring the sport back to the programme.
The global growth of cricket also strengthens its chances of returning. Women's cricket continues to attract larger audiences, while T20 leagues have expanded the sport's popularity across new markets.
Another major boost is cricket's inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where both men's and women's T20 competitions will be played. It will mark the sport's first Olympic appearance since 1900 and significantly enhance cricket's global profile.
With cricket returning to the Olympics and continuing to grow internationally, there is every possibility that a future Commonwealth Games host will choose to reintroduce the sport. While it misses out on Glasgow 2026 due to exceptional financial circumstances, the door remains firmly open for cricket to feature again in future editions of the Games.
