‘I look forward to working together,’ says FIFA prez Gianni Infantino after meeting ICC chief Jay Shah
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New Delhi: FIFA President Gianni Infantino met International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah in Milan, signaling potential collaboration between leaders of the world’s most popular sports.
Infantino shared a photo of the meeting on Instagram, praising Shah’s efforts to grow cricket globally. “It was my pleasure to meet ICC Chairman Jay Shah today in Milan. The outstanding work he has done to grow the beautiful game of cricket is exemplary,” he wrote.
He also wished Shah success as cricket returns to the Olympics after 128 years. “I wish him and everyone the very best as cricket gets reintroduced to the Summer Olympic Games in two years' time. I also look forward to working together and collaborating as we unite the world through sports.”
Cricket will feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in a modern T20 format, with separate men’s and women’s tournaments from July 12 to 29. Each event will include six teams playing 28 matches total, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals. Medal matches are set for July 20 (women’s) and July 29 (men’s).
Teams can field 15-player squads, filling 90 athlete quotas per gender. All matches will take place at a temporary venue in Pomona, about 50 km from Los Angeles.
Qualification pathways remain undecided, with discussions expected at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore starting July 17.
Cricket last appeared at the Olympics in Paris 1900, where Great Britain beat France for gold in a one-off match.
(Inputs from IANS)