England, Scotland to take field as ‘Great Britain’ in LA Olympics: Reports

Traditionally, in the Olympics, there is no England, no Scotland and no Wales. All of them compete under one flag and are referred to as Great Britain. 

Cricket will return to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 for the first time since 1900. It is expected to be in a T20 format, and the ICC has proposed a six-team competition for both men’s and women’s competitions but the qualification process is yet to be determined. However, it is safe to assume that the T20I rankings will play a significant role.

According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland (CS) are working closely and have already discussed joining hands for the Olympics. However, the ECB is keen to be the team’s governing body for the tournament.

“With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away, it’s very early stages, but we’re talking to Team GB and Cricket Scotland about the next steps we need to take,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.

“Once again, Great Britain’s Olympians have captured the national imagination with their exploits in Paris this year, and we look forward to working together to compete when cricket returns to the Olympic stage in 2028.

“Along with England and Wales hosting Women’s and Men’s [T20] World Cups in 2026 and 2030, it’s another great opportunity to grow the game and inspire more people to develop a love for cricket.”

Andy Anson, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association, further adds, “We’ve got good experience in golf, in rugby and in women’s football, of how the Four Nations [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] can come together and nominate one country to be the main governing body and work with the other countries. So I think cricket will be the same.”

The venue for cricket in the Olympics is yet to be determined. However, there are a couple of options. Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) and Major League Cricket (MLC) plan to build a stadium in Great Park, Irvine. Oakland Coliseum is also another option that will be discussed.

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