Cricket is Back at the Olympics

After 128 years, cricket is finally back as one of the games in the Olympics. It will be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.

Cricket is expected to return at the LA28, marking its first appearance in 128 years. The group stage is scheduled to run from the 12th to 19th of July in 2028, with the women’s medal matches set to be held on July 20th and the men’s medal matches on July 29th. All games will be hosted at the Pomona Fairplex, located approximately 50 km outside of downtown Los Angeles. The matches will take place at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time, with the majority of days featuring double-header games to fit the six-team structure into the Olympic timetable.

Cricket made its Olympic debut in Paris in 1900, where Great Britain triumphed over France in a single-match competition.

Cricket is a team sport played with a bat and ball, originating in England and popular in countries formerly part of the British Empire. Two teams of eleven players compete to score runs by hitting a ball and running between wickets, while the fielding team tries to dismiss the batsmen and restrict scoring. Matches can vary in length, from limited-overs games to multi-day test matches.

While the Olympic qualification criteria have not been finalized, the issue will likely be addressed during the ICC’s (International Cricket Council) Annual Conference in Singapore starting July 17th. Many believe the best-performing teams should be selected for the tournament to showcase top-tier cricket. It is still uncertain whether qualification will rely on ICC rankings or if a separate qualifying tournament will be organized.

There is also ongoing discussion about whether the host nation, the USA, should automatically qualify, and how associate nations will be included. The ICC must ensure the Olympics remains a global competition, which means fair representation for associated nations. A clearer picture of the qualification process is expected to emerge after the ICC’s meeting on July 17th.