The International Cricket Council (ICC) is optimistic about cricket’s inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) started the process of identifying the core sports for the grand sporting spectacle.

On Thursday (December 10), the IOC named 28 sports in the "initial programme" for the 2028 Olympics and cricket wasn’t one of them. While games such as skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing were added, boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon were excluded.

Notably, the respective international federations have been given time until 2023 to meet certain criteria to secure their spot at the 2028 Games, and the ICC is hoping that cricket is among sports to get the nod of the IOC.

"The process to pick additional sports by the host city starts next year (2023) and we are hoping cricket to be a part of that," an ICC Board member told PTI.

"We know it will be tough (for cricket to be included as an additional sport). There are no guarantees and we are up against some other great sports to try and get a spot in the 2028 LA Games."

In August, ICC had confirmed its intention to push for cricket’s addition in the Olympics. The apex had started preparations for a bid with the primary target being its addition to the Los Angeles 2028 itinerary.

In fact, a working group, headed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Ian Watmore, was also formed to lead the bid.

“Our sport is united behind this bid, and we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future. We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 percent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics," ICC chairman Greg Barclay had said four months back.

In 2024, the IOC will take a call on the additional sports proposed by the LA Games organisers.

While cricket has been a part of Commonwealth Games in the past, it had last featured in Olympics over 120 years ago, in 1900.

(With PTI inputs)