By Barrie Alpha
Cricket has been included to be part of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year, with Namibia and Malaysia opting to host the qualifying tournament.
If Namibia were to host the tournament, it would take place in August this year, but if Malaysia, it would be in January next year.
Addressing the NOC executives who are responsible for registering qualified sports for the games, and also for monitoring the qualifying competitions, the Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) chairman, Beresford Bournes-Coker told them that ICC readjusted the games format to suit the comfort of the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
He went on that female teams are expected for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and will be in the T20 Format, adding that cricket will also be part of the Olympic Games in America 2028.
For the Olympic Games he said very recently the ICC approved the T10 Format which he said will be played for a shorter time. The chairman said he believes the Olympic Committee will accept the T10 Format since it will be played for a shorter time.
He said very soon cricket will be a full member of the Olympic Committee, and assured that cricket is ready to win medals in both games “like they have been doing before in other competitions.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of NOC in Sierra Leone, Joseph Nyande, welcomed them and told them the criteria for becoming an Olympic member. He told them that towards the end of the week they will put mechanisms in place on their issue. Nyande also assured them that they are always ready to give them any advice they need.
In another development the Chef de Mission Unisa Deen Kargbo have registered the number of players and officials for the qualifying tournament.