LONDON: Cricket’s long Olympic exile could finally come to an end this week when Games chiefs meet in Mumbai to finalise the programme for Los Angeles 2028. Twenty-eight sports are already confirmed on the schedule but cricket was one of five new sports formally proposed for inclusion by organisers for the Games on Monday. The International Cricket Council’s proposal is for men’s and women’s Twenty20 competitions — the shortest form of the international game. “We are delighted that LA28 have recommended cricket for inclusion in the Olympics,” ICC chairman Greg Barclay said. “Whilst this is not the final decision, it is a very significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century.” If it makes the cut, it would be the first time cricket has featured since 1900, when a team from Britain beat a side representing France in Paris. Since then it has been in the Olympic wilderness, in part because cricket itself was quite happy to stand aside from the Games. But in recent years the ICC has made clear it wants to be part of the global showpiece — a move that could turbo-charge the sport and help it exploit new markets.