Cricket makes grand return to Olympics; LA28 organising committee unveils schedule

LA 28 unveiled full schedule. [Source - @icc/@olympics/x.com]

In a historic announcement, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28) organising committee revealed the competition schedule on Wednesday, marking cricket's return to the Games after more than a century. The event will host over 11,000 athletes, competing across 51 sports at 49 venues spread across 18 zones in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.

Cricket makes a glorious comeback

Cricket will feature at the Olympics for the first time since Paris 1900, when Great Britain defeated France to claim gold. This time, the fast-paced T20 format will take centre stage, with both men's and women's tournaments held separately, each awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals. All matches will take place at a specially built temporary stadium at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, approximately 50 kilometres from downtown Los Angeles.

The women's medal matches are scheduled for July 20, while the men's finals will be held on July 29. The six-team tournaments will collectively feature 28 matches, combining both the men's and women's events, with teams primarily qualifying from each continent based on their highest positions in the ICC T20I rankings. There will be double-headers on most days, with the games are set to begin at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time (which corresponds to 9:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. IST).

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Structure and full schedule for Cricket in LA28

Each tournament will include 90 players, divided into six teams, with squads comprising 15 players each. The competition promises high-intensity clashes and global attention, as cricket continues to expand its footprint worldwide.

LA 2028 women's cricket full schedule 

LA 2028 men's cricket full schedule 

The LA28 Olympics are set to open on July 14, with the closing ceremony scheduled for July 30. The inclusion of cricket not only revives an iconic Olympic chapter but also highlights the sport's growing international appeal, especially in markets like the United States, where interest in cricket has increased in recent years. The recent meeting between ICC Chair Jay Shah and IOC President Kirsty Coventry further reflects the smooth and collaborative transition of cricket into the Olympic framework.

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