A Historic Comeback
Cricket will return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) - marking a comeback 128 years after its first and only appearance at Paris 1900, where Great Britain beat France in a one-off match to take the gold.
The announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ends decades of speculation and lobbying, confirming that cricket will be part of the Olympic Games for only the second time in history. This decision is a landmark moment in the global expansion of the sport.
Confirmed Dates & Venue for LA28 Cricket
Following April's confirmation of participating teams and venue, the IOC has revealed the full schedule for cricket at the 2028 Olympics.
Event Dates: 12 July - 29 July 2028
Medal Matches:
Women's Final: 20 July 2028
Men's Final: 29 July 2028
All matches will be held at the Pomona Fairplex, a multi-purpose venue located approximately 50 km from downtown Los Angeles.
Format & Fixtures
Format: T20 International for both men and women
Teams: 6 per gender
Athletes: 90-player quota per tournament (15-member squads)
Fixtures: Double-headers most days
Match timings: 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM local time
This high-paced format is designed to attract global viewership and fit into the compact Olympic window while showcasing cricket's excitement and skill on the world's biggest sporting stage.
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Qualification Path Still to Be Decided
While the format and schedule are set, the qualification criteria for LA28 are yet to be finalized. The ICC (International Cricket Council) is expected to discuss the qualification process at its Annual Conference in Singapore, starting 17 July 2025.
Expect debates around world rankings, T20 World Cup performance, and regional qualifiers influencing which six nations will represent each gender.
Why This Matters for Cricket
Cricket's inclusion in LA28 is more than a historic throwback - it's a strategic move toward globalizing the sport. The Olympics offer a unique platform to showcase cricket to non-traditional markets, particularly in the U.S., where the sport is rapidly gaining traction thanks to leagues like Major League Cricket.
The visibility, sponsorship opportunities, and media exposure that come with the Olympics could be a game-changer for cricket's growth in the Americas, Africa, and East Asia.
With the LA28 Olympics now officially featuring cricket, fans around the globe can look forward to a high-stakes, fast-paced T20 tournament that could redefine cricket's global footprint.
The countdown has begun. The world will watch. And cricket finally gets its Olympic second innings.
