WEB DESK: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the return of cricket to the Olympic program at the 2028 Games, with matches scheduled to begin on July 12.
Historically, cricket was last included in the 1900 Paris Olympics, where teams from Britain and France participated, with Britain winning the event. In October 2023, officials from the Los Angeles 2028 Games proposed a men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournament featuring six teams each, including the United States as the host nation.
Today, a press release officially confirmed the return of cricket after a long hiatus, along with the competition schedule. The matches will start on July 12, with medal matches scheduled for July 20 and 29.There will be no matches in Los Angeles on July 14 and 21. Most days will feature two matches—starting at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time. The same timings will be used for medal matches.
Both men’s and women’s tournaments will consist of six teams each, with squads of 15 players. A total of 90 slots are allocated for male and female players.
All matches will be held at a specially constructed temporary stadium in Pomona, approximately 50 kilometers from Los Angeles, at the Fairgrounds.
CWI CEO Chris Daring expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We want to celebrate the glorious Olympic history of our individual nations. Our countries have always won medals with their flags flying high. Now that cricket is back, we must ensure our cricketers make history—not by outdoing others, but by competing fairly. We are ready to cooperate and compete, but above all, we seek justice.”
