New Delhi, February 5: FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Jay Shah, the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), in Milan. This meeting is seen as a significant gathering between leaders of two of the world’s most popular sports.
Infantino shared details of the meeting through an Instagram post, praising Shah’s contributions to advancing cricket and wishing him well for the sport’s return to the Olympic Games.
In his post, Infantino expressed his pleasure in meeting Shah, stating, “It was a pleasure to meet ICC Chairman Jay Shah in Milan today. His remarkable work in promoting the beautiful game of cricket is exemplary. As cricket returns to the Summer Olympics in two years, I wish him and everyone involved the best of luck.”
He further expressed eagerness to collaborate with Shah to unite the world through sports. “I look forward to working together and cooperating to connect the world through sports,” he added.
Cricket will make its comeback at the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles, marking its return after 128 years since it was last played at the 1900 Paris Olympics.
The T20 format of cricket will be featured at the LA 2028 Olympics, with separate competitions for men and women, each awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals. The competitions will run from July 12 to July 29, with medal matches scheduled for July 20 (women) and July 29 (men).
Each category will include six teams, totaling 28 matches. A quota of 90 players has been set for both men and women, allowing each team to declare a squad of 15 players.
All cricket matches at the Olympics will take place in a temporary stadium at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, located about 50 kilometers from Los Angeles.
However, the qualification process for cricket in the 2028 Olympics has yet to be determined. Discussions on this matter are expected to take place during the ICC’s annual meeting, which will begin on July 17 in Singapore.
