Mid-Day

Cricket is on the first rung of the ladder for inclusion at a future Games, having received full Olympic recognition in 2010, but would still have to apply to be on the programme.

Now the earliest the International Cricket Council (ICC) can apply for the sport to feature at an Olympic Games is 2024. But following a two-day meeting in Auckland, the MCC world cricket committee said that any financial losses the game might suffer from the sport being included at an Olympics would be outweighed by extra exposure. “The MCC world cricket committee appreciates that a great deal of effort may be needed to lobby for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games of 2024,” it said in a statement.

“The committee accepts that, were cricket to be played in the Olympics, there would be a short-term loss in income for the ICC, but is impressed with the potential boost for the game worldwide.”