ICC launches bid to put cricket in Birmingham 2022
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has submitted a bid for the inclusion of T20 women’s cricket into the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.
The announcement follows the completion of the Women’s World T20 tournament, which saw England lose to Australia in the final on Sunday.
Edgbaston was part of the feasibility study for the bid, which has been made in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
If successful, it would see women’s cricket played in the Commonwealth Games for the first time. Cricket was played, by men’s teams, in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur but has not returned to the tournament.
ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “Cricket and the Commonwealth are inextricably linked and almost perfectly aligned with 910m of cricket’s 1bn-plus adult fans from Commonwealth countries.
“Creating a new partnership between women’s cricket and the Commonwealth Games demonstrates the commitment both organisations have to growing women’s sport and delivering greater equality, fairness and opportunity in sport across the Commonwealth.
“Birmingham is the perfect place to launch this partnership as the city shares cricket’s rich and diverse culture and heritage. 23 per cent of the city’s residents have links to cricket playing nations outside the UK, the deep connection between cricket and Birmingham will bring people together and inspire future generations of players and fans of women’s cricket.
“If cricket were to be staged in these Games, we know every team competing would be guaranteed ‘home’ support. There’s a ready-made audience and ready-made infrastructure in the local vicinity.”
Edgbaston is already guaranteed 31 days of major match cricket between 2020 and 2024, including three One-Day Internationals and three International T20s whilst it has also been awarded T20 Finals Day for the entire five-year period.
The addition of the Women’s T20 in Birmingham 2022 would be a big boost to Edgbaston’s schedule that year, which already includes an England Test match against South Africa, a one-day international versus India, and the T20 finals day.
