The Indian women’s cricket team won silver at the Commonwealth Games (CG) 2022 in Birmingham after finishing as runners-up in a thrilling final against Australia.
The sport had returned to the Games after a hiatus of 24 years since its debut at the 1998 CG in Kuala Lumpur.
Cricket is set to be excluded from the sports event in 2026. The men’s and women’s teams will not be able to compete in Glasgow.
Nine sports have been cut from the 2026 Commonwealth Games. It will take place in Scotland’s capital, Glasgow, starting this Thursday, July 23.
Why Cricket Was Dropped From Commonwealth Games 2026
The 2026 Commonwealth Games were initially awarded to Victoria, Australia. However, in July 2023, the Australian state government withdrew from hosting due to a projected deficit of 6 – 7 billion AUD (4-5 billion USD).
With the 2026 Commonwealth Games on the brink of being cancelled, Glasgow became the replacement host. This left the organizers with a short period of time to ensure the event took place while avoiding massive public expenditure. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the local authorities made preparations based on a “cut-down model”, which made significant changes to the sports programme, including a reduction in the number of sports and venues.
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The sports program at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will see a reduction in the number of sports from nineteen, as seen in Birmingham in 2022, to ten. Among the sports that will not take place at the Games are cricket, hockey, badminton, table tennis, wrestling, and rugby sevens.
One of the main reasons why cricket has been removed is to reduce costs. Unlike several other sports, cricket takes place in a stadium, which requires significant investment in infrastructure, such as grass pitches. Additionally, there are high staffing costs associated with maintaining the pitch.
The decision to limit the sports to ones that could be accommodated within 4 existing venues was crucial to minimizing spending. It ensured that the event took place in a sustainable manner.
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