Steve Smith, an Australian veteran, has acknowledged that it will be difficult to make the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic T20I squad. The seasoned athlete is aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, but he is still committed to giving it his all to fulfil his Olympic ambition.
More than a century after making its debut at the Games in 1900, cricket will finally return to the Olympics in 2028. Steve Smith has been outspoken about his wish to play for Australia on one of the largest athletic platforms in the world ever since the announcement. The right-handed batter is still hoping to compete for a spot on the podium and add another chapter to his remarkable career, even though he will be 39 by the time the Games arrive.
My objective is to try to make that Olympic squad at (LA)28. I believe that the Australian T20 team is currently performing fairly well. It’s going to be difficult to get in, but you have to keep trying your hardest, and you never know,” Steve Smith told Sky Sports.
Yes, I have watched a lot of the Olympics since I was a little child, and I truly liked seeing the Australian competitors compete. So, you know, I thought it would be pretty wonderful to be engaged when I heard that cricket would be a part of it,” he continued.
Over the years, Steve Smith has participated in several ICC events and encountered some of cricket’s most intense rivals.
However, he is excited about the possibility of participating in the Olympic Games, an event that has international prominence outside of sports.
“I’ve certainly participated in a number of World Cups, Ashes, Border Gavaskar Trophy, and similar events, but when this opportunity presented itself, it was novel and another chance to represent your nation internationally. I would really like to be involved in that, but it’s still a long way off. Thus, we shall see,” Steve Smith remarked.
The former Australian captain has not been a consistent member of Australia’s T20I squad since he resigned from ODIs following a devastating Champions Trophy loss. His inclusion in the playing XI against New Zealand in February 2024 marked his most recent appearance in the shortest format. It is unclear if Smith would be included in the Australian team for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.