Why is cricket not part of the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026?

Cricket made a successful return to the Commonwealth Games in 2022 after a gap of 24 years, with the women's T20 competition featuring in Birmingham. However, it turned out to be a short return as the sport will not be a part of the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place in Glasgow from July 23, 2026.

The decision not to include cricket in the CWG Games has nothing to do with the popularity of the sport; rather, it is a result of the scaled-down nature of the Games.

Why is cricket not part of the Commonwealth Games?

Unlike previous editions, the Commonwealth Games of 2026 will feature only 10 sports, which is significantly fewer than the number of games which were contested in previous iteration that took place in 2022. A total of 19 disciplines were played during Birmingham 2022.

The Australian state of Victoria was first announced as the host, but it withdrew due to rising costs. Following that, Glasgow stepped in to and got the hosting rights. To keep the event financially viable, organisers decided to trim the number of sports and use only existing venues instead of building new infrastructure.

As a result, several sports, including cricket, were left out of the programme.

No Suitable venue for Cricket

Another major reason behind cricket's exclusion is the lack of a suitable venue.

The T20 competition at the Commonwealth Games 2022 was held at Edgbaston, which is renowned as one of England's leading cricket grounds. Glasgow does not have a venue of that standard.

Constructing or upgrading a stadium for a single event would have significantly increased costs, which went against the organisers' objective of hosting a low-cost games.

Cricket's focus has shifted to the Olympics

While it has no connection to it not being a part of the Commonwealth Games, but it needs to be noted that Cricket is preparing for its return to the Los Angeles Olympics of 2028. Both men's and women's T20 tournaments will be played at the Olympics. It will be the sport's first feature at the games since 1900. Hence, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has shifted much of its focus towards ensuring a successful Olympic debut.

Although cricket will not be part of the Commonwealth Games 2026, it remains one of the fastest-growing global sports and is expected to continue featuring in major multi-sport events in the future.