The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially unveiled the much-awaited schedule for cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028. This momentous announcement marks the end of a 128-year hiatus for the sport from the world’s most prestigious multi-sport event.
Dates and venue for cricket matches at LA 2028 Olympics
Both men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournaments are slated to captivate audiences from July 12 to July 29, 2028, with matches taking place at the Pomona Fairplex, a sprawling venue situated approximately 50 kilometres from the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
Cricket’s last appearance on the Olympic stage was during the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain secured the gold medal in a solitary match against France. The upcoming LA28 edition promises a significantly modernized and dynamic format, featuring six national teams competing in both the men’s and women’s events. Each participating squad will be permitted to include up to 15 players, adhering to the allocated 90 athlete quotas per gender, ensuring a competitive and star-studded lineup.
The tournament structure is meticulously designed to deliver high-octane action within a concentrated timeframe:
- Opening matches are set to commence on July 12.
- The women’s medal match, determining the champions, will be held on July 20.
- The men’s medal match, concluding the cricket festivities, is scheduled for July 29.
Organizers have strategically planned double-headers on the majority of match-days to efficiently integrate the tournament into the broader Olympic calendar. Games are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and 6:30 pm local time. These timings are not arbitrary; they have been carefully chosen to maximize viewership and commercial impact, particularly targeting key cricket markets in South Asia, most notably India, where the sport commands an unparalleled following and passion.
A century-long wait of cricket at Olympics finally ends
The decision by LA28 to embrace the T20 format is a deliberate move to showcase the sport’s rapid-fire excitement and its most prominent global stars to an enormous worldwide audience. The selected venue, Pomona Fairplex, is an expansive 500-acre fairground with a rich history of hosting large-scale events since 1922. It is anticipated that the site will undergo significant transformation, with the construction of a new, purpose-built cricket stadium specifically for the Olympic Games. This state-of-the-art facility will be equipped to host both daytime fixtures and thrilling floodlit matches, adding to the spectacle.
The reintroduction of cricket into the Olympic fold underscores the sport’s burgeoning global stature and influence. The IOC has explicitly cited cricket’s immense international fanbase, estimated at a staggering 2.5 billion individuals, as a pivotal factor in its Olympic resurgence. In recent years, cricket has consistently demonstrated its widespread appeal and competitive viability at other major multi-sport events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, both of which have successfully hosted men’s and women’s T20 competitions.
Also READ: ‘Serious about gold in cricket’: Steve Waugh delivers a bold and unexpected prediction for LA 2028 Olympics
Who will qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics?
While the dates and venue are confirmed, the intricate details regarding qualification for the six coveted team slots in each tournament are yet to be finalized. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to make crucial announcements regarding the qualification criteria following its annual conference, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday (July 17) in Singapore. Key decisions will revolve around whether Olympic berths will be determined by existing world rankings, through a dedicated qualification tournament, or a hybrid approach that balances participation from both established cricketing powerhouses and emerging associate nations. The automatic inclusion of host nation USA is also a significant consideration in these discussions.
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