Cricket will make a historic comeback to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 for the first time since 1900, with men’s and women’s T20 tournaments set to feature. Among those inspired by this milestone is Canadian national team player Achini Perera, who hopes to lead her country onto the Olympic stage despite the team’s current No. 31 global ranking.
For Perera, the reintroduction of cricket to the Olympics is more than symbolic—it’s a chance to grow the sport in Canada. “It won’t be the sole thing that puts cricket on the map in Canada, but it’s a very good starting point,” said former West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite, who is also championing the sport’s growth through community events and awareness campaigns.
That momentum continues with the first-ever Cricket to Conquer Cancer fundraiser this Saturday in Mississauga, Ontario, hosted by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Perera and Brathwaite will join notable Canadian figures like Dwayne De Rosario, Jamaal Magloire, and Jully Black at the event. It’s a cause especially meaningful to Brathwaite, whose mother survived breast cancer, and is held in memory of fellow cricketer Kenroy Williams, who passed away last year.
Perera, who debuted for Canada at 19, has become a cornerstone of the national team while advocating for mentorship and greater integration of younger athletes. She uses her social media to uplift female cricketers across the Americas and promote pathways for girls in the sport.
From her childhood memories of wearing oversized gear and following her brother to matches, to her national leadership and coaching, Perera now envisions an Olympic debut—either on the field or by building the next generation to reach it.
“To hear that it is [in the Olympics] now, I’m quite honoured. I’m actually really excited to see it at that stage… like, ‘Oh yeah, cricket’s involved too,’” she said.
Swifteradio.com
