The International Cricket Council has sought members’ feedback on benefits and financial gains as it continues to push for the sports inclusion in the Olympics.
The International Cricket Council has reportedly sought members’ analytical opinion about what benefits cricket could expect from inclusion in Olympics. The sport has not been played in the quadrennial games since the 1900 Paris Games.
The lone Olympic cricket match in 1900 Olympics was a showpiece event and won by the Great Britain against France by 158 runs.
However, the world governing body for cricket appears to be pushing for its inclusion in the Olympic fold.
The in an ICC survey two years ago 87% people had voted in favour of cricket’s return to the Olympics. The ICC recently has asked its member nations to analyse the financial benefits if cricket’s inclusion is successful at the major global event.
The ICC, according to ESPNcricinfo, has sent a questionnaire to all the member nations asking them to quantify the “potential financial support” they could be receiving from their Governments and Olympic organisation if cricket features at the Olympics.
The members are supposed to return the questionnaire by November 2. The matter will be discussed further at the ICC board meetings. W
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India with the best control on the financial muscle of the sport will have to play a major role. Without Team India’s presence, no cricket event with make commercial sense as a majority of the supports funding comes from India incorporation.
Cricket is considered the third most popular sport in the world behind football and basketball with a worldwide following of over one billion.