Cricket among major sports dropped from Commonwealth Games

Cricket was among the major disciplines cut from the Commonwealth Games 2026, scheduled to run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow.

The upcoming quadrennial event will feature only ten disciplines which means cricket’s return to the Games cut short.

Cricket, which is set to make its return to the Olympics after 128 years in Los Angeles in 2028, featuring both Men’s and Women’s T20Is, was last part of the CWG 2022 where it only featured Women’s T20 event.

Australia won the gold after beating India in the final, while New Zealand secured the bronze.

Besides cricket, wrestling, hockey, shooting, badminton, table tennis, squash, rugby sevens, beach volleyball and mountain biking are the other notable disciplines cut from the Games.

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Although no specific reason was provided by Glasgow, the host city, monetary issues appear to be one of the reasons for the trimmed-down Commonwealth Games 2026.

Remember, Glasgow stepped in as the host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of the hosting rights, citing rising costs.

The Games, last held in Glasgow in 2014, will be held across four venues, featuring around 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth countries and territories.

“The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow – an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact – in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting,” Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said in a statement.

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