Cricket is set to return to the Olympics after 128 years in the LA28 Olympics. Cricket was last played in the Olympics in 1900. That match was between Great Britain and France in Paris. Great Britain won the gold medal. The 2028 Games will be cricket’s second appearance at the Olympics.
The matches will be played at Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona. This city is about 50 kilometres from Los Angeles. The cricket competition will be held in the T20 format. It will begin on July 12, 2028. Medal matches are scheduled for July 20 and July 29. There will be no matches on July 14 and July 21. Most matchdays will have two games.
Cricket Format in LA28 Olympics
There will be six teams in the men’s event and six in the women’s. That makes a total of 12 teams. Each team will have 15 players. So, 180 players will compete in total. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved 90 player slots for men and 90 for women.
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Will India play cricket in LA28 Olympics?
Cricket is growing fast in the United States. In 2024, the USA co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Matches were played in Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York. Crowds were large and the response was positive.
In October 2023, the IOC added five new sports to the LA28 Games. These are cricket, baseball/softball, lacrosse (sixes), flag football, and squash.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the Games will leave a strong legacy. She shared that more than one million children have joined PlayLA, a free sports program supported by LA28 and the IOC.
Top teams like India, England, Australia, and South Africa are expected to play. The USA will also likely take part as the host. Cricket’s return to the Olympics is a historic moment for the sport!
