The England Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland are reportedly considering forming a joint Great Britain team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cricket is set to return to the Olympics in 2028 after being absent for over a century, last played at the 1900 Paris Games.
Athletes from the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, compete under the Great Britain banner, known as Team GB. This means the cricket team could include both English and Scottish players. The two national boards are reportedly in discussions to make this plan a reality.
“With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away, it’s very early stages, but we’re talking to Team GB and Cricket Scotland about the next steps we need to take. We look forward to working together to compete when cricket returns to the Olympic stage in 2028. Along with England and Wales hosting Women’s and Men’s [T20] World Cups in 2026 and 2030, it’s another great opportunity to grow the game and inspire more people to develop a love for cricket,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNCricinfo
Andy Anson, CEO of the British Olympic Association, stated that the way different nations unite for various sports under the organization can also be applied to cricket.
“We’ve got good experience in golf, in rugby and in women’s football, of how the Four Nations [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] can come together and nominate one country to be the main governing body and work with the other countries. So I think cricket will be the same,” said Anson.
Though the sport will be played in the T20 format, the International Olympic Committee has yet to finalize the format and number of participants.
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