Cricket, hockey, shooting, badminton, wrestling dropped from 2026 Commonwealth Games

By Special Correspondent

 LAHORE: In a blow to Pakistan’s medal prospects in the Commonwealth Games, key sports such as hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket and shooting have been dropped from the 2026 edition by host city Glasgow, which unveiled a pruned roster of 10 disciplines to keep the event budget-friendly. Table tennis, squash and triathlon have also been axed in a bid to limit the cost and streamline logistics given that only four venues will host the entire showpiece. The total number of events at the Games will be nine fewer compared to the 2022 Birmingham edition. “The Games will include 10 sports – striking a balance between ensuring the event has a multi-sport feel and the need to manage financial and operational risk,” the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement. “The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball,” the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement. The 23rd edition of the mega-event is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, marking Glasgow’s return as host after 12 years, following the 2014 edition. “The Games will take place across four venues — Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodation,” it added. The roster is a massive setback to Pakistan’s medal prospects given that bulk of the country’s medals came from the removed disciplines in the past editions. Shooting was never expected to return after being dropped from the Birmingham programme four years ago, owing to logistics. Glasgow Green and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, which hosted hockey and wrestling in 2014, has been dropped from the list of venues, while Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, where badminton was held that year, will be used only for cycling this time.

Aside from cost, hockey’s exclusion could also be down to the fact that the Games are being organised close to the World Cup that is scheduled two weeks later from August 15 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands. The Australian state of Victoria was the original host of the 2026 edition but pulled out last year due to rising costs. Scotland then stepped in to save the Games. Wrestling has been one of Pakistan’s most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games, contributing 46 medals, including 21 golds. The exclusion of wrestling will have a major impact, as it has been a consistent source of top podium finishes for the country. Hockey, another sport with a rich history in Pakistan, has also been excluded. Pakistan’s hockey team previously won multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games, and its removal further narrows the country’s opportunities to earn medals. Cricket, which was featured in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, will also be absent. Given Pakistan’s strong cricket team, this omission further weakens its medal chances. Shooting, a sport in which Pakistan has won three commonwealth games medals (one silver and two bronze), has also been dropped from the 2026 program. This removes yet another potential avenue for Pakistan to add to its medal tally. In total, Pakistan has claimed 27 gold, 27 silver, and 28 bronze medals across all Commonwealth Games appearances. The absence of wrestling, hockey, cricket, and shooting will likely make it harder for Pakistan to build on this success in 2026. The sports to be featured in the 2026 Games include athletics and para-athletics, swimming and para-swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para bowls, along with 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball, which leaves Pakistan’s realistic hopes depending mainly on two sports i.e., athletics — if Arshad Nadeem participates — and weightlifting.

“Para sport will once again be fully integrated as a key priority and point of difference for the Games, with six Para sports included on the sport programme,” CGF said. The CGF said that the Games will deliver over 100 million pounds of “inward investment into the city” and is expected to support add an economic value of over 150 million pounds for the region. The body asserted that all this would be possible thanks to a model “that has been specially designed to not require public funding for the delivery of the Games.”