Is BCCI Standing in the Way of Cricket’s Olympic Dream?

Most of the BCCI members in the are not too keen for cricket to become an Olympic sport, according to reports.

Sadly, India’s medal hopes have been dashed by their own cricket board.

(Photo: Rahul Gupta/The Quint)

Imagine if cricket makes a comeback to Olympics in 2024, after making its last appearance in the 1900 Paris Games. Indian fans would certainly hope for another medal going into the quadrennial event!

Sadly, there’s not much to cheer about, as India’s medal hopes have been dashed by their own cricket board.

According to The Times of India, the International Cricket Council wants cricket (T20 competition) to be included in the Olympics from the 2024 edition, but most of the members in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are not too keen for cricket to become an Olympic sport.

We have heard about the ICC’s Olympics initiative but most members are not keen.

Senior BCCI Functionary quoted by <i>Times of India</i>

The ICC has been told by The International Olympic Council (IOC) that cricket’s bid to enter the Olympics will be considered only if all the top teams assure their participation.

India has been making a huge impact on revenues and decision-making in world cricket. The ICC can surely not go ahead without the BCCI’s participation.

However, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has asked the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to submit a report on the possibility of cricket being included in the Olympics. But, the members of the BCCI will make the final decision.

Most of the BCCI members are against cricket being a part of the Olympics because they feel that the board will lose its autonomy, as the board will have to work under the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Certain members don’t want to stand with ICC because they were not handed their preferred deal in the revenue sharing model.

The BCCI has been treated very shabbily by the ICC in recent times. Now if they come to us for their own benefits, why would we comply? And we don’t even know about the financial aspect of such a big step.

BCCI Official quoted by <i>Times of India</i>

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