MUMBAI: Cricket, which has been part of the Commonwealth Games only once so far, is unlikely to get a berth in the CWG 2022, whichever city hosts the Games.
Durban, which was earlier selected to host the CWG 2022, planned to include cricket in the itinerary, but the city was stripped of the event in March this year for failing to meet certain financial deadlines. While the Commonwealth Games Federation was keen on including both men's and women's cricket in the event, several full member nations from the International Cricket Council (ICC) are opposed to the inclusion of men's cricket in 2022 as it would clash with other events, ESPNcricinfo reports.
These include a planned Test series between England and India and CPL, the new-team domestic T20 competition in England.
While Birmingham, one of the host city contenders, decided to drop cricket from the event if awarded the CWG 2022, the other contender Liverpool too appears to have dropped the idea of including the sport. "Cricket is no longer scheduled to be part of the Games," Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball told ESPNcricinfo.
"We've just run out of time, really. The Commonwealth Games Federation want gender equality and discussion within the ICC about whether members want to send men's teams is unresolved. Combined with issues over the number of athletes, I don't see any way cricket can be included in 2022."
Cricket was included in the Commonwealth Games only once, in Malaysia in 1998, when South Africa defeated Australia in the final. A decision on where the 2022 Games will be staged is expected to be announced shortly. Apart from England, there are also bids to host the event from Malaysia and Australia.
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