ICC Prefers T20 Will Be The Best Format To Go Forward With In 2028 Los Angeles Games

International Cricket Council (ICC) is taking a lot of efforts to include cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. ICC also feels that T20 is the best format for Olympic Games but is also open to any other format which International Olympic Committee (IOC) decides. Cricket was last played in The Olympics in the 1900 Paris Games. Since then, the sport has not been part of the Olympics.

ICC has formed an Olympic Working Group, which has the job to induct cricket in the forthcoming Olympic Games in 2028, set to be held in United States’ Los Angeles. USA Cricket chief Paraag Marathe, English board chief Ian Watmore, and PepsiCo Inc CEO Indra Nooyi are the chairmen of the committee. The ICC committee prefers T20 to be the best format for the Olympics.

ICC Prefers T20 Format For Olympics

While speaking about the matter to Sport Unlocked podcast, USA Cricket chief Paraag Marathe said that 106 ICC member nations have supported the idea of making cricket a part of the Olympic Games.

“I am hopeful that it is very likely. For the first time ever 106 member nations of the ICC are supportive of getting cricket into the Olympics. I just know that for the first time we have a united effort of wanting to be in the Olympics and it’s long overdue in my opinion.” Marathe said.

Marathe also said that ICC prefers T20 to be the best format for the Olympics but will comply with IOC on the matter if it wants to go ahead with some other format.

“I think the T20 format is one that is easily digestible and works. It certainly works from a timing perspective. It fits the format of American sports, roughly three hours. It’s an understood format because of the success of the IPL.

“But of course we will work with the IOC and if there is a different format they prefer then we are open to it. The most important thing for us is to get cricket in the Games. We do go in thinking that T20 is probably the best.”

T20I is the shortest format of cricket on the international stage, which consists of 20 overs or 120 balls in one inning. However, some domestic tournaments like England’s The Hundred and UAE’s T10 League have opened more shorter options of cricket. The Hundred tournament witnesses only 100 balls per side. On the other hand, the T10 league only comprises only 10 overs or 60 balls for each team.

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