After a very long period, nearly 128 years, cricket secured its place in the Olympic Games. This time, the men’s and women’s teams will play the exciting T20 format at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
This was 1900 in Paris, where the sport last featured in the Olympics and Great Britain triumphed over France in the first and last match-ever played. Now, it’s back in completely revamped form.
The cricket schedule at LA28: key dates
- Starting Date: July 12, 2028
- Women’s Final: July 20
- Men’s Final: July 29
- Break Days (No Event on July 14 and 21)
Date and Time of Events (Locals Time):
- Morning Event: 9 AM
- Evening Event: 6:30 PM
Date and Time of Events (IST):
- First Event: 9:30 PM IST
- Second Event: 7 AM IST (next day)
Venue Information
- Location: Fairgrounds in Pomona, California
- Venue: Fairplex, a massive 500 acres multipurpose site approximately 50 km from Los Angeles.
- Special preparation: A temporary cricket stadium built.
Tournament Structure and Teams
- Men’s and women’s T20 format, two separate medal events.
- Number of teams: 6 teams in each event
- Squad size: 15 players in each team
- Total players: 90 men and 90 women, totalling 180 in cricket.
New Sports to be Launched at LA28
- Baseball/Softball
- Flag Football
- Lacrosse (Sixes)
- Squash
- Similar to cricket, many countries expect a major participation of Indians in this sport.
Overview
This is much more than an affair of cricket resurfacing in the prestigious platform of the Olympics; it is the most substantial stride towards the hitherto long-cherished recognition of the game on the global arena. LA28 will bring T20 cricket of world standards to the television sets of the world.
Mark your calendars for July 12, 2028, for the great Olympic return of cricket! And keep an eye on this space for more cricket-related developments pertaining to the Olympic return and the full LA28 schedule as the excitement builds.
Written by RITESH SINGH
