USA cricket board chief Paraag Marathe on Cricket’s inclusion into the 2028 Olympics

Earlier this month, International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that they are interested in bidding for the inclusion of cricket as a discipline for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. 

On the Sport Unlocked podcast, Paraag Marathe, the chief of the USA cricket board and a member of the ICC Olympic Working Group, stated that the global cricketing body prefers T20 cricket in the Olympic Games. He also explained why the shortest form of the game is the one on their minds given the fact that it is incredibly popular and concludes in roughly three hours.

“I am hopeful that it is very likely. For the first time ever 106 member nations of the ICC are supportive of getting cricket into the Olympics,” Paraag Marathe told the Sport Unlocked podcast.

“I think the T20 format is one that is easily digestible and works. It certainly works from a timing perspective. It fits the format of American sports, roughly three hours. It's an understood format because of the success of the IPL...but of course, we will work with the IOC and if there is a different format they prefer then we are open to it,” he added.

“The most important thing for us is to get cricket in the Games. We do go in thinking that T20 is probably the best. I just know that for the first time we have a united effort of wanting to be in the Olympics and it’s long overdue in my opinion.”

Cricket last appeared in the global sporting event in 1900, at the second-ever Olympic Games in Paris. Britain won the gold medal, while France was awarded the silver medal. It is worth noting that only two nations competed in the discipline. However, a lot will have changed by 2028. The number of participants will increase, as will the level of the sport, which has evolved.