ICC banking on the BCCI for the introduction of cricket into the Olympic Games

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is pushing the issue of introducing the game of cricket in the all important Olympic Games. However, the International Olympic Council (IOC) has said that the bid will only be considered if all the top teams and players vow to participate in the event.

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Now the ICC will require the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which strongly believes cricket to be a non-Olympic sport. BCCI being the biggest powerhouse among the cricket boards will have to back the ICC, without which the move will be impossible. According to reports most of the BCCI officials are not willing to do so.

“We have heard about the ICC’s Olympics initiative but most members are not keen,” a senior BCCI functionary said.

“The ICC is continuing to explore the possibility of cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics and the main thrust of that at present is on convincing the BCCI. But with everything that has happened there over the last few months, it has delayed the process,” a source close to the developments told TOI.

The ICC has approached the BCCI in order to bring them to terms so that they can carry on with the bidding process which is scheduled to take place in the month of September. There is not much time left and the ICC needs to get their work done quickly. But the BCCI has not shown much of an interest.

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court has asked for a report from the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri on the feasibility of cricket being part of the Olympics. According to many BCCI officials, if cricket becomes an Olympic sport the BCCI will not enjoy complete freedom of governing the sport as it will fall under the International Olympic Council (IOA).

“We are not saying it’s completely ruled out, but a decision shouldn’t be forced upon us. It should be an independent, well-considered decision,” another official added.

The ICC believes that the success of the Women’s World Cup in England will add as a boost to their proposal. With Indian skipper Mithali Raj demanding the growth of Women’s cricket in India, the BCCI might take it seriously. There is no doubt over the fact that the women’s game will get a whole new platform if cricket is introduced into the Olympic Games.

“It certainly would play a big part in the growth of the women’s game -so there is an added attraction there,” an ICC source said.