Cricket edges close to Comm Games return

Women's Twenty20 cricket has moved a step closer to featuring in the 2022 Commonwealth Games after being nominated by organisers for its potential inclusion in Birmingham.

The decision needs to be ratified by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) members, which is expected to announce its findings sometime in the next six weeks

The news follows a bidding process that included a joint presentation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Most major cricketing nations participate in the Commonwealth Games but the sport has made just one previous appearance at the quadrennial event, in Kuala Lumper 20 years ago when men’s nations played a 50-over tournament, with South Africa winning gold and Australia the silver medal.

Australia's women’s team are the current T20 world champions.

"We are absolutely delighted that women's cricket has been nominated for inclusion in Birmingham 2022," ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement.

"I'd like to thank everyone at the CGF and Birmingham 2022 for the nomination and it would be a real honour to become part of the Commonwealth Games family."

The ICC last year said Birmingham was the perfect place for cricket's return to the event as 23 per cent of its residents have links to cricket-playing nations outside the UK.

The ICC proposed an eight-team T20 event, with teams split into two groups and 16 matches to be played at two venues, including the 25,000-capacity Edgbaston.

“We fully support the ICC's bid to have Women’s T20I cricket included in this event,” Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said of the ICC’s proposal last year.

“(We) know if it was to happen, it would be a great outcome for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the future of cricket for women, men, girls and boys worldwide.

“Our women’s team are great ambassadors for the game and our country, inspiring the next generation of girls and boys in Australia to chase their sporting dreams."

The 1998 Games in Kuala Lumper featured 16 teams, including smaller nations like Canada, Malaysia and Northern Ireland, that were split into four groups.

It’s not known how the ICC proposes for Caribbean nations to participate in the event given athletes from the region represent their individual countries at the Games, while international cricketers play under the banner of the West Indies.

In Kuala Lumper, Jamaica, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda all played in the cricket tournament, meaning Windies teammates like Curtly Ambrose (Antigua), Jimmy Adams (Jamaica) and Sherwin Campbell (Barbados) represented competing teams.