Cricket Returns to the Olympics in 2028 After 128 Years

Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, marking the sport's first appearance in the Olympics since 1900. Fans are eagerly anticipating this event, and details regarding the match schedule have now been released. The cricket matches are set to take place at the Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, located approximately 50 kilometers from Los Angeles, starting on July 12, 2028. The medal matches will occur on July 20 and July 29, 2028. According to the competition schedule, two matches will be held on most days, while no matches are scheduled for July 14 and July 21. Last year, the International Olympic Committee approved the inclusion of cricket, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash in the 2028 Olympic Games.

Cricket was last featured in the Olympics during the 1900 Paris Games, where a two-day match was played between Great Britain and France, which is now considered an unofficial Test. In the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, six teams will compete in the T20 format. Additionally, the organizers have set a maximum player limit for each team, allowing up to 15 players. This means that a total of 90 athletes, divided equally between men and women, will participate in the T20 format, with six teams from each gender competing, totaling 180 players.

The ICC currently has 12 full members and 94 associate members. The full members include teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. However, details regarding the qualification process for the 2028 Olympics have yet to be announced. It is anticipated that the United States will participate as the host nation, which means that five additional teams will qualify through the qualification process.