Afternoon:
10°c
Cricket chiefs are in talks with Boris Johnson about a move to the Olympic stadium after the 2012 Games.
The 80,000-seat venue could be used in the summertime to stage professional evening Twenty20 matches.
Talks have also focused on creating cricket practice facilities for the local community in the Olympic Park.
Cricket is hugely popular in the area, especially among the Asian population, but public facilities are poor.
Proposals have been discussed between the London Development Agency, two unnamed professional clubs and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Details of the negotiations emerged in a mayoral response to London Assembly Labour Party member for City and East John Biggs about cricket facilities in east London.
Mr Johnson said: "The LDAhas engaged with two professional cricket clubs and the national governing body of the sport to explore opportunities for professional cricket (particularly Twenty20 cricket) to be played in the legacy stadium post 2012 and proposes to identify areas within the legacy park, where cricket nets and recreational cricket can be played."
The discussions follow calls this summer from a number of high-profile supporters for the 80,000-seat stadium to become a venue for cricket. Shadow sports minister Hugh Robertson, Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi, MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw and Hampshire chief executive Stuart Robinson have all backed the idea.
Mr Biggs said: "The local Pakistani community in particular is crazy about cricket. It would be criminal if we don't provide these facilities as part of the legacy of the park."
