Men’s cricket a chance for 2022 Commonwealth Games

LONDON: Men’s cricket could return to the Commonwealth Games as early as 2022 if Birmingham is chosen as host city.

Cricinfo understands that the city has been invited to bid for the Games by the UK government after Durban, which was originally scheduled to be the host city, was obliged to withdraw due to financial and political issues.

Women’s cricket was already included in the Durban schedule but Neil Snowball, the Warwickshire chief executive and a member of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games bid company, has confirmed the intention to include men’s cricket, too, subject to the agreement of the ECB and ICC. The format would be T20.

The games would be held at Edgbaston and at Worcestershire’s New Road home.

Birmingham will not be the only city vying to step-in as hosts. Cities in Canada, Malaysia and Australia are all expected to apply, while Liverpool have also confirmed their interest. Liverpool are not thought likely to include cricket among the sporting events.

Birmingham does have a couple of considerable advantages, though. As part of their bid to host the Games in 2026, they hired an independent company (Origin Sports) to put together a feasibility study that is understood to confirm their readiness for the event while, unlike some rival candidates, the city already has the vast majority of the venues — including the Alexander Stadium, Edgbaston, Villa Park, and the National Indoor Arena — required to host such an event in working order.