Cricket made a successful return to the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham 2022 after a gap of 24 years, raising hopes that the sport will become a regular feature of the multi-sport event. However, fans will not be able to watch cricket at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as the sport will once again be missing from the programme.
This decision has nothing to do with the popularity of cricket. Instead, it is the result of financial challenges that forced organizers to reduce the scale of the Games, leading to the removal of many major sports along with cricket.
Why is cricket not a part of Commonwealth Games 2026?
Cricket is missing from the Commonwealth Games 2026, as the tournament has been shortened after the original host, Victoria in Australia, withdrew from hosting due to rapidly rising costs.
The Commonwealth Games faced an uncertain future before Glasgow stepped in as replacement host, following Victoria’s withdrawal in 2023. However, rather than holding a full-scale event, organizers opted for a much smaller and more cost-effective version to ensure that the Games could still take place.
To reduce financial and operational expenses, Glasgow decided to use existing sporting venues, existing hotel accommodation and a compact schedule spread across a limited number of venues, rather than building an athletes’ village.
As a result, the program was reduced to 10 sports, with only athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics, judo and boxing retained.
Several popular games were removed, including:
- Cricket
- Hockey
- badminton
- Wrestling
- Squash
- table tennis
- triathlon
- Beach volleyball
- rugby sevens
Importantly, cricket was not singled out for removal. It was one of several games abandoned as part of organizers’ attempt to hold a financially sustainable Games.
The second major reason is that cricket is an optional sport in the Commonwealth Games rather than a compulsory one. While core sports such as athletics and swimming are guaranteed a place in every edition, alternative sports are selected by the host city based on available infrastructure, budget and logistical feasibility.
Since Glasgow chose a smaller model using only existing facilities, cricket was not made the final event.
Cricket at the Commonwealth Games: A Brief History
| version | Format | Sleep | silver | Brass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 kuala lumpur | men’s odi | South Africa | Australia | new zealand |
| 2022 birmingham | women t20 | Australia | India | new zealand |
Cricket has been hosted only twice in the history of the Commonwealth Games. The game was first showcased at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, where a men’s 50-over tournament was held with 16 participating teams. South Africa won the gold medal, defeating Australia in the final, while New Zealand won the bronze medal. Despite fielding a strong team, India failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Cricket was missing from the Games for more than two decades before returning at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Unlike 1998, Birmingham hosted only the Women’s T20 tournament, marking the first time women’s cricket was included in the Games. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) strongly supported its inclusion, believing it would help grow the women’s game while also reaching a larger Commonwealth audience.
The tournament proved successful. Australia won the gold medal by defeating India in a thrilling final, while New Zealand won the bronze medal by defeating England in the third-place playoff.
This successful event gave hope that cricket had established a permanent place in the Commonwealth Games. However, the financial realities surrounding the 2026 edition meant that those plans could not continue.
Will cricket return to the Commonwealth Games in the future?
Although cricket is absent from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, its long-term future at the event remains promising.
As cricket is an optional Commonwealth Games sport, future host cities have the flexibility to propose its inclusion if suitable venues, infrastructure and budget are available. A host with established cricket stadiums and strong financial backing can easily bring the game back on the schedule.
Cricket’s global growth also strengthens its chances of a comeback. Women’s cricket continues to attract large audiences, while T20 leagues have expanded the game’s popularity into new markets.
Another big boost is the inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where both men’s and women’s T20 competitions will be played. It will mark the game’s first Olympic appearance since 1900 and will significantly raise cricket’s global profile.
With cricket returning to the Olympics and continuing to grow at the international level, it is very likely that a future Commonwealth Games host will choose to reintroduce the sport. Although it missed out on participation at Glasgow 2026 due to exceptional financial circumstances, the door is firmly open for cricket to be included again in future editions of the Games.
Although cricket is not a part of the Commonwealth Games, fans can enjoy the current season of The Hundred. Here are the complete teams for the tournament.
