Los Angeles, July 15, 2025 — Cricket is officially set to make a grand return to the Olympic Games after a 128-year absence, with the T20 format featured at the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finalized the dates and details of the cricket competition, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s global expansion.
Cricket at LA28: Key Highlights
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Dates:
📅 July 12 to July 29, 2028
🏅 Women’s Medal Match: July 20
🏅 Men’s Medal Match: July 29 -
Venue:
All matches will take place at the Pomona Fairplex (Fairgrounds), located approximately 50 km from downtown Los Angeles. -
Format:
Each category (men’s and women’s) will feature 6 teams, with a total of 90 athlete quotas per tournament — meaning each nation can field 15-member squads. -
Match Timings:
Most days will feature double-headers, with games scheduled for 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time.
Cricket’s Olympic Comeback: A Historic Moment
Cricket last featured in the 1900 Paris Olympics, when Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match. Its return to the Olympic fold in T20 format signals a strategic push by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the IOC to introduce globally popular sports to new audiences.
The LA28 Games will give cricket a platform to reach new fans, particularly in North America, where the sport is gaining traction. The Major League Cricket (MLC) in the U.S. and rising diaspora-driven fandom have bolstered the sport’s presence in the region.
Qualification Pathway Yet to Be Finalized
While the team participation count is confirmed, the qualification mechanism for the six men’s and six women’s teams has not yet been announced. The ICC is expected to address this during its Annual Conference in Singapore, starting July 17.
Possible qualification criteria could include:
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Top-ranked ICC teams
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Continental representation
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Host nation (USA) automatic qualification
More details will be released post-ICC’s deliberations.
A Big Leap for Global Cricket
The inclusion of cricket in LA28 is being celebrated across the cricketing world. It aligns with the ICC’s ambition to make cricket a truly global sport and potentially opens the door for its continued inclusion in future Olympic Games, including Brisbane 2032.
Cricket at LA28 – At a Glance
Category | Details |
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Format | T20 |
Dates | July 12 – July 29, 2028 |
Venue | Fairgrounds, Pomona, Los Angeles |
No. of Teams | 6 Men’s & 6 Women’s |
Squad Size | 15 players per team |
Medal Matches | Women: July 20, Men: July 29 |
Match Timings | 9:00 AM & 6:30 PM (local time) |
