ICC Chairman Jay Shah pushes for Cricket’s inclusion in Olympics

Newly appointed ICC Chairman Jay Shah has this week met with top officials of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics organising committee to discuss cricket's potential inclusion in the Summer Games.

Shah’s meeting highlights the ongoing efforts to integrate cricket into the Olympic movement and the enthusiasm surrounding its return. The sport is not yet confirmed for the 2032 edition in Brisbane.

The meeting was attended by Brisbane 2032 organising committee chief Cindy Hook and Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley.

Shah shared a glimpse of his meeting with Hook on his X account “very exciting time ahead for Cricket’s involvement in the Olympics movement – a meeting with the @Brisbane_2032 organizing committee in Brisbane, Australia today.”

Among Shah's immediate priorities is to find a solution to the hosting of Champions Trophy in February-March. A hybrid model has been agreed by all stakeholders but no announcement has been made yet, fuelling speculations over the future of the event.

The decision to include cricket in the 2028 Olympics was made during the 141st International Olympic Committee session held in Mumbai in October of last year. Cricket’s reintroduction to the Olympics follows its successful return to the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, where it was included for the first time since 2014. The Asian Games featured a multi-nation T20 tournament for both men’s and women’s teams. India dominated the event, securing gold medals in both categories.

Upon Shah’s election as the ICC chairman on 1st December, he noted “I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.

“While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways.”

Shah’s election marks a new chapter for the ICC as it seeks to expand the game’s reach and continue its evolution on the global stage.