Very hopeful of seeing Cricket in 2028 Olympics, says Mike Gatting
MCC World Cricket Committee chairman Mike Gatting has said that he is very hopeful of seeing Cricket in the 2028 Olympics at Los Angeles. The BCCI coming under the bounds of NADA, an affiliate of WADA, could serve as a breakthrough move for the sport to be included as a part of the Olympics.
In what comes as exciting news for cricket fans all over the world, MCC World Cricket Committee Chairman Mike Gatting has stated that he is very hopeful of seeing the sport included in the 2028 Olympics which is to be held in Los Angeles. The comment comes on the back of his conversation with ICC's new chief executive Manu Sawhney, who told Gatting that significant efforts were being taken to ensure the sport's inclusion in the 2028 olympics.
"We were talking with Manu Sawhney the ICC chief executive, and he was very hopeful we can get cricket into the 2028 Olympics," Gatting was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"That's what they're working towards at the moment and that would be a huge bonus for cricket worldwide, it would be fantastic," he added.
The BCCI coming under the bounds of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), which is an affiliate of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), has served as a major breakthrough for the proceedings, as it is mandatory for all sporting federations' doping policy to be overseen by WADA. With that thorn out of the way, the sole focus will now be on getting the sport on the quadrennial global event by 2028.
"I think the next 18 months will be very interesting as to how we do that. One of the problems has been negated, where the BCCI is now working with NADA, the drugs agency, which it wasn't previously a part of," Gatting said.
"That will help a long way towards the sport being whole, which is what we need it to be to apply for the Olympics, both men and women to play and all countries to comply," he added.
The former English skipper also believes that the tournament, which in all likeliness will not go on for more than a couple of weeks, will work in favour of all teams, as the short time-span will ensure that it is not thrust into an already hectic calendar.Â
"It's two weeks, that's a good thing about it, it's not a month, so it's one of those (events) where scheduling for two weeks should be fine once every four years once you do the first one.
"You're going to have - one hopes - a four-year period, once you know you've been accepted into the Olympics, that gives you a chance to actually shape your two weeks, so it's not as if it is butted into the schedule." he concluded.