WEB DESK: Cricket will make its return to the Olympic program for the first time in 128 years during the 2028 Los Angeles Games, featuring men’s and women’s T20 tournaments. Matches are set to take place at a venue in Pomona, Southern California. Anticipation is high that cricket will also be included in the 2032 Games in Brisbane.
The last time cricket was part of the Olympics in 1900, when Great Britain defeated France in a two-day match in Paris. However, the sport’s long-awaited return will occur in California in three years.
While the specific dates for the cricket competitions at LA 2028 have yet to be confirmed, the Olympic Games will run from July 14 to July 30 and will host a total of 36 sports and 351 events.
In addition to cricket, other new sports making their debut after the 2024 Paris Olympics include flag football and squash, alongside the returning baseball/softball and lacrosse.
The cricket matches will be held at a temporary stadium located in Fairplex, a 500-acre venue in Pomona that has hosted the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922 and accommodates various events, concerts, and sports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed that the cricket tournaments will involve six teams, each comprising 15 players.
Although qualification pathways have not yet been confirmed, there are discussions reportedly taking place between the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Scotland regarding the possibility of fielding a Great Britain team.
The participation of the USA team is still uncertain, with an official remarking to Reuters, “Ideally, you’d want to send the top six teams in both the men’s and women’s categories, which complicates whether the US will compete.
They are not a full ICC member, but as the Olympic hosts, the US naturally has a claim to be present, making this a challenging decision.”
