ICC bids for women's T20 in 2022 Commonwealth Games

DUBAI, Nov 26 (Reuters): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has submitted a bid for the inclusion of women's Twenty20 in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the governing body said on Monday.

Cricket has not featured in the quadrennial Games since its maiden appearance in 1998 when the South African men's team won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.

"Cricket and the Commonwealth are inextricably linked and almost perfectly aligned with 910 million of cricket's one billion plus adult fans from Commonwealth countries," ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement.

"Creating a new partnership between women's cricket and the Commonwealth Games demonstrates the commitment both organisations have to growing women's sport..."

Birmingham is the perfect place to launch this partnership as 23 per cent of its residents have links to cricket-playing nations outside the United Kingdom, Richardson said.

"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," he added.