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ICC bidding for T20 cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Thursday marked the launch of the T20 lajor League Cricket (MLC) in the US with six franchise-owned teams competing including four backed by IPL principals

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Photo: AFP

By PTI

Published: Fri 14 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM

The International Cricket Council chief executive Geoff Allardice on Friday made it clear that they are bidding for Twenty20 format cricket's inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The ICC is bidding for cricket's entry at the 2028 edition of the Olympics as the fate of its entry would be decided in a couple of months' time.

"The Olympics want to stage a format that has its World Championship. Given that, we will be proposing the shortest format for Olympic inclusion -- that would be T20 cricket," said the ICC CEO in a media roundtable on the sidelines of the Board Meeting here.

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Thursday marked the launch of the much-anticipated T20 league, Major League Cricket, in the USA with six franchise including four owners from the IPL.

While Kolkata Knight Riders owns the Los Angeles side, Mumbai Indians have New York, Delhi Capitals have Seattle Orcas, while Texas is owned by Chennai Super Kings.

The ICC chief said MLC would draw a lot of attention to the sport.

"There are a number of developments in the USA that are helping to raise the awareness of the game. Start of the MLC is one of them, they draw a lot of attention to the sport." He further said that the Men's T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by US Cricket and Cricket West Indies, contrary to speculations that it would move to the UK.

"I can say with finality that 2024 men's T20 world cup will be played in the West Indies and US."

"The men's T20 World Cup next year, will continue to raise awareness of sport. We are talking to LA Olympics people for last 18 months to two years, raising with them the awareness of cricket.

"We are expecting a decision in next couple of months. Yes all promotion of cricket in the US contributes to raising that awareness," he said.

There has been proliferation of many formats including the T10 and the Hundred but those are not yet considered to be included as International format.

"At the moment three international formats of the game are helping us and members to best promote the sport. There is no discouragement for T10 for domestic leagues or local tournaments.

"As a format, each member can use whichever format of the games they want to promote the game. The T10 has not been raised by any member for ICC to consider it as an international format," Allardice said.

To a question whether the proliferation of franchise leagues would affect the health of International cricket, he replied.

"You look at the impact of franchise sport. It is helping to promote our sport in a number of territories.

"It's bringing a lot of content to venues, broadcasters, fans and it's able to reach a much broader range of people than just International cricket. So the emergence of franchise leagues is one way to promote our sport.

"There has been an increase in activity in that area and one of those discussions is to bring a balance in the calendar, what the international cricket should look like...

"The staging of a domestic league with the top players of that country is a very good way to promote cricket. We have made strides in a number of territories. It is changing the dynamics of the game and a lot of that has been positive," he added.

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PTI

Published: Fri 14 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM

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