After a 128-year break, cricket is scheduled to make a modern comeback to the international athletic scene at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The men’s and women’s T20 cricket competitions will begin on July 12 and feature medal matches on July 20 and 29, according to the schedule released by the organizers.
The announcement marks a historic moment, as cricket was last featured in the Olympics in Paris 1900, where only two teams, Great Britain and France, competed in what is now seen as an unofficial Test match. Great Britain clinched the gold medal in that edition. Since then, the sport has been absent from the Olympic arena, until now.
Cricket will make a comeback at LA 2028 in a contemporary T20 style designed for athletes of all genders. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded in each competition, which will be held independently. The competition is a component of a larger initiative to promote the sport internationally and highlight its enormous popularity outside of its typical hotspots.
The official schedule states that most days will have double headers with games commencing at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local Los Angeles time, with no cricket matches scheduled on July 14 or 21. These match times correspond to 9:30 PM and 7:00 AM the next day in Indian Standard Time (IST), which offers South Asian fans comfortable prime-time viewing.
With 90 athlete quotas per tournament, there will be six teams per gender competing in the Olympics, each of which can field a roster of 15 athletes. These choices will be essential to presenting a wide range of elite cricket players from around the globe.
All matches will be hosted at a temporary purpose-built venue located at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, roughly 50 kilometers from Los Angeles. This move ensures cricket gets a dedicated space without interfering with other Olympic venues, while also offering a professional setup for high-stakes matches.
The return of cricket to the Olympics is not just about reviving history—it represents the sport’s growing global footprint and its increasing relevance in multi-sport events. For fans worldwide, especially in countries like India, Australia, England, and South Africa, this development elevates cricket’s status and bridges it closer to universal sporting recognition.
This move is a monumental step for cricket’s future. With the Olympics being the world’s most prestigious sporting platform, the reintroduction of cricket at LA 2028 amplifies the sport’s visibility and could pave the way for its inclusion in future editions as well.
