Cricket bosses want the sport included for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

Cricket was an Olympic sport more than 100 years ago, and after the success of the Games in Tokyo, officials want back in.

Steve Waugh during the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Cricket has officially put up its hand to be part of the Olympics with a push for inclusion at the 2028 games in Los Angeles and beyond.

The International Cricket Council confirmed it has convened a working group to lead the bid on behalf of the sport that will focus on cricket becoming part of the Olympic family.

It’s expected the push will be for T20 competitions for men and women, with gender equality a prerequisite for the inclusion of new sports.

The ICC has pointed to the rapid growth of the game in the US as a key reason for inclusion in the LA Olympics.

“Our sport is united behind this bid, and we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future,” ICC chairman Greg Barclay said.

“We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 per cent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics.

Steve Waugh at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

“Clearly cricket has a strong and passionate fanbase, particularly in South Asia where 92 per cent of our fans come from, whilst there are also 30 million cricket fans in the USA. The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalising.”

Cricket made its one and only Olympics appearance at the Paris Games of 1900, but the sport has been staged at the Commonwealth Games.

An Australian team including the likes of Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist won a silver medal when 50-over cricket was played at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Women’s T20 cricket has been included for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The cricket push comes a day after Netball Australia announced it was officially bidding for inclusion at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.