Cricket Excluded from 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled from July 23 to August 2, 2026, will not feature cricket, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. This decision comes despite cricket’s return in the 2022 Birmingham Games with a women’s T20 tournament, where Australia triumphed over India in the final. The Australian team was led by Meg Lanning, a celebrated captain with multiple World Cup victories.
Cricket, along with sports like field hockey, badminton, shooting, and wrestling, has been removed from the 2026 schedule. No specific reasons have been provided for this exclusion. However, CWG CEO Katie Sadleir mentioned that the 2026 Games aim to be a model for future events, focusing on cost reduction, environmental sustainability, and social impact.
Interestingly, cricket is set to make a comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after 128 years, featuring in the T20 format. The decision was made during the 141st International Olympic Committee session in Mumbai. Niccolo Campriani, director of the LA2028 local organizing committee, emphasized the commitment to growing cricket in the US, highlighted by the successful launch of Major League Cricket and the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024.
Cricket also returned to the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, with India winning gold in both men’s and women’s categories.
Doubts Revealed
Commonwealth Games -: The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, where athletes from countries that were once part of the British Empire compete. It’s like a big sports festival for these countries.
Glasgow -: Glasgow is a city in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. It’s known for its rich history and culture.
Meg Lanning -: Meg Lanning is a famous Australian cricketer who is known for being a great captain of the Australian women’s cricket team. She led her team to victory in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Sustainable -: Sustainable means using resources in a way that does not harm the environment and can be maintained for a long time. In this context, it means organizing the Games in a way that is good for the planet and doesn’t cost too much.
IOC -: IOC stands for the International Olympic Committee. It’s a group that organizes the Olympic Games and makes important decisions about which sports are included.
Olympics -: The Olympics is a major international sports event that happens every four years, where athletes from all over the world compete in various sports. It’s one of the biggest sports events globally.