Cricket may return to Commonwealth Games in 2026

Currently, cricket is in the list of optional sports for the Commonwealth Games, whose hosting depends upon the host cities’ power to stage the event provided the ICC grants its blessings. 

The ICC had earlier agreed for the inclusion of women's cricket in 2022 Games and is working with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for the successful staging of the event. ESPN Cricinfo has reported that the ICC is open to discussing the inclusion of men’s games in the 2026 Games.

Neil Snowball, the Warwickshire chief executive, who is also a part of Birmingham's bid team said that cricket would be of interest if they are successful in their bid.  

Now, the plan is to host the biggest games at Warwickshire's home ground of Edgbaston, which is only a mile away from the centre of Birmingham. Other games could be played at Warwickshire's Portland Road ground (three miles from Edgbaston) and in some neighboring counties. 

Andrew Strauss, the director of cricket at ECB, has said that the idea had his backing, but they will take a decision after consulting with the ICC. "Yes, I would be very supportive of that," Strauss told ESPN Cricinfo. "But it would not just be the ECB involved in such a decision."

In the 1998 Commonwealth Games, sixteen teams- Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, had taken part, in which South Africa defeated Australia by four wickets to win the tournament.