The 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games is all set to take place in Birmingham, United Kingdom between July 28 and August 8. The 22nd edition of the multi-sporting event will witness 5054 athletes competing for glory in 280 events across 20 sports. The participants will compete in various disciplines, from aquatics to cycling and wrestling, amongst others.
Cricket will also be a part of this year’s Commonwealth Games. While there is no men’s event, women’s teams will participate in the prestigious competition. It will be played in T20 format. Eight countries are taking part in this year’s cricket event at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan and Barbados. Hosts England, South Africa and Sri Lanka are in Group B.
The Women in Blue will face Australia in the first match of the league stage on July 29 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, which will be the venue for all the matches. The much-awaited India-Pakistan clash will take place on July 31, while India will face Barbados on August 3. The gold medal match is scheduled to take place on August 7.
Men’s cricket is not part of the ongoing edition. The event wasn’t popular when it was held as part of the Commonwealth Games many years back in 1998.
When was cricket included in Commonwealth Games?
The game of cricket was introduced during the 1998 edition of the Commonwealth Games that took place in Kuala Lumpur as a 50-over tournament. This is the only edition till date that has featured men’s cricket.
Sixteen teams took part in the event and were divided into four groups. Group A featured Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and Malaysia while Group B comprised Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, India and Canada.
Group C comprised South Africa, Barbados, Northern Ireland and Bangladesh whereas Group D included New Zealand, Pakistan, Kenya and Scotland. The top team from each group qualified for the semi-finals.
India finished third in their group, behind Australia, Antigua and Barbuda. They played three games – winning one and losing one, while one match did not produce a result. India’s first match against Antigua and Barbuda ended in no result. They proceeded to hammer Canada by 112 runs but went down against Australia by 146 runs.
New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa made it to the CWG 1998 semi-finals. The Aussies thumped the Kiwis by nine wickets to reach the final, while the Proteas registered a close one-wicket win over the Lankans. South Africa defeated Australia by four wickets in the final to claim gold.
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