ICC rejects invitation for cricket to feature at 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia

Adam Gilchrist has been a strong advocate of cricket featuring in multi-sport events

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected an invitation from the Commonwealth Games Federation for cricket to be a part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

CGF Chairman, Prince Imran of Malaysia, had given a presentation to the ICC, in June 2012, in the hope of convincing the ICC to allow cricket to take part in the 2018 Games as well as the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, but his effort has ended in vain.

Cricket will not be adding to its solitary appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, with the ICC deciding that cricket’s participation in a major multi-sports event not being necessary, although cricket will feature at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in St. Lucia.

Speaking about the decision to refuse the invitation from the CGF, an ICC spokesman said: "There were discussions about the inclusion of men's and women's Twenty20 cricket in both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games but neither of these came to fruition.

"However, cricket is scheduled to feature in the Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia in 2017."

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock kisses his gold medal after leading his team to victory over Australia in the cricket final during the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998

The intense cricketing calendar from 2015 to 2023 in addition to the 2018 Commonwealth Games clashing with the scheduling of the IPL are believed to be the major reasons for ICC’s refusal in taking part in the competition.

The ICC has, for some reason or the other, often been reluctant in taking part in multi-sport events. Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist, though, believes that the ICC should reconsider their stance, as participation in these events is the simplest way cricket’s aim of becoming a global sport can come to fruition.

"The single best way to spread the game globally is for the ICC to actively seek its inclusion as an Olympic sport," Gilchrist said.

"Without doubt, the Olympic movement provides one of the most efficient and cost effective distribution networks for individual sports to spread their wings globally.

"It would be difficult to see a better, quicker or cheaper way of spreading the game throughout the world."