NEW DELHI, India — FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he looks forward to working with International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah after the two met in Milan, marking a rare crossover between leaders of two of the world’s most influential sports bodies.
Infantino shared details of the meeting in a post on Instagram, praising Shah’s role in expanding the global reach of cricket and extending his best wishes as the sport prepares to return to the Olympic Games.
“It was my pleasure to meet ICC Chairman Jay Shah today in Milan,” Infantino wrote. “The outstanding work he has done to grow the beautiful game of cricket is exemplary. I wish him and everyone the very best as cricket gets reintroduced to the Summer Olympic Games in two years’ time.”
He added that he hopes to collaborate more closely in the future. “I also look forward to working together and collaborating as we unite the world through sports,” Infantino said.
Cricket is set to return to the Olympics at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, marking its first appearance since the Paris Games in 1900, when Great Britain won gold in a one-off match against France.
At Los Angeles 2028, cricket will be played in a modern format, with separate men’s and women’s T20 tournaments. Each competition will award gold, silver, and bronze medals. The cricket events are scheduled to run from July 12 to July 29, with the women’s medal match set for July 20 and the men’s final on July 29.
Six teams will compete in each of the men’s and women’s tournaments, with a total of 28 matches across both competitions. Each gender has been allocated 90 athlete quotas, allowing teams to field squads of up to 15 players.
All matches will be held at a temporary, purpose-built venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, a city located about 50 kilometers from Los Angeles.
The qualification process for the LA 2028 Olympic cricket tournaments has yet to be finalized. The issue is expected to be discussed during the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore, which is scheduled to begin on July 17. (Source: IANS)
