Cricket omitted from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth games schedule

Cricket will not be included in the schedule for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to take place from July 23 to August 2. The decision comes as part of a larger cut, with only ten sports confirmed for the event, leaving out cricket and other disciplines like field hockey, badminton, shooting, and wrestling.

No specific reason has been given for cricket's removal. However, Katie Sadleir, the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, stated, "The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow - an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimizes costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact." This suggests that budget concerns and a need for a more sustainable approach may be behind the changes.

Cricket made a comeback in the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with a women's T20 event held in Birmingham. Australia won the gold medal, defeating India in the final, while New Zealand took home the bronze. The sport had previously appeared in the Commonwealth Games in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, where South Africa won the men's 50-over gold.

Despite cricket's absence from the Commonwealth Games, it is set to return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, marking the first Olympic appearance for the sport in 128 years. Both men's and women's T20 competitions will be featured. The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics reflects a growing commitment to developing the sport in the United States, highlighted by the successful launch of Major League Cricket earlier this year and the upcoming men's T20 World Cup in 2024, which will take place in the US and West Indies.