Cricket is returning to the Olympics after 128 years, and the world is watching.
At the Los Angeles 2028 Games, one of the planet’s most-followed sports will make its long-awaited comeback in the fast-paced T20 format, with both men’s and women’s tournaments on the programme.
From qualification rules and match dates to the newly built venue in Pomona, here is everything fans need to know about Olympics Cricket 2028.
Cricket at the 2028 Olympics: A Historic Return After 128 Years
Cricket last appeared at the Olympics in 1900 in Paris, where only one match was played between Great Britain and France in a two-day game. Great Britain won, and the event was not even recognised as an Olympic contest until 1912. Players at the time reportedly did not know they were competing in the Olympics at all.
The IOC formally approved cricket’s inclusion for LA28 on October 16, 2023, at its 141st Session in Mumbai, with only two votes against inclusion. The sport returns with both a men’s and women’s T20 tournament, each awarding gold, silver and bronze medals.
Cricket is one of five new sports added to the LA28 programme, alongside baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.
Olympics Cricket 2028 Format: T20 With Six Teams Per Tournament
At LA 2028, cricket will be played in the T20 format, with six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. A total of 90 athlete quotas have been allocated for each gender, allowing every team to name a 15-member squad.
T20 is a fast-paced version of cricket where teams face a maximum of 20 overs, each consisting of six balls, with the chance to hit boundaries and sixes that make the format a natural fit for global audiences unfamiliar with longer versions of the game.
| Detail | Men’s Tournament | Women’s Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 6 | 6 |
| Format | T20 | T20 |
| Squad Size | 15 players | 15 players |
| Total Matches | 14 | 14 |
| Final Date | July 29, 2028 | July 20, 2028 |
A total of 28 matches will be played across both tournaments combined.
Olympics Cricket 2028 Full Schedule: All Matchdays and Key Dates
All matches are played at the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium, Pomona. Rest days fall on July 14 and July 21. Most matchdays are double-headers at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM PDT, which translates to 9:30 PM IST and 7:00 AM IST the following day.
Women’s Tournament Schedule
| Date | Day | Match | PDT | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2028 | Saturday | Women’s Match 1 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 12, 2028 | Saturday | Women’s Match 2 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 13, 2028 | Sunday | Women’s Match 3 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 13, 2028 | Sunday | Women’s Match 4 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 15, 2028 | Tuesday | Women’s Match 5 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 15, 2028 | Tuesday | Women’s Match 6 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 16, 2028 | Wednesday | Women’s Match 7 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 16, 2028 | Wednesday | Women’s Match 8 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 17, 2028 | Thursday | Women’s Match 9 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 17, 2028 | Thursday | Women’s Match 10 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 18, 2028 | Friday | Women’s Match 11 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 18, 2028 | Friday | Women’s Match 12 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 19, 2028 | Saturday | Women’s Semifinal 1 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 19, 2028 | Saturday | Women’s Semifinal 2 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 20, 2028 | Sunday | Women’s Bronze Medal Match | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 20, 2028 | Sunday | Women’s Gold Medal Match | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
Men’s Tournament Schedule
| Date | Day | Match | PDT | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2028 | Tuesday | Men’s Match 1 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 22, 2028 | Tuesday | Men’s Match 2 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 23, 2028 | Wednesday | Men’s Match 3 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 23, 2028 | Wednesday | Men’s Match 4 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 24, 2028 | Thursday | Men’s Match 5 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 24, 2028 | Thursday | Men’s Match 6 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 25, 2028 | Friday | Men’s Match 7 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 25, 2028 | Friday | Men’s Match 8 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 26, 2028 | Saturday | Men’s Match 9 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 26, 2028 | Saturday | Men’s Match 10 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 27, 2028 | Sunday | Men’s Match 11 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 27, 2028 | Sunday | Men’s Match 12 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 28, 2028 | Monday | Men’s Semifinal 1 | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 28, 2028 | Monday | Men’s Semifinal 2 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
| July 29, 2028 | Tuesday | Men’s Bronze Medal Match | 9:00 AM | 9:30 PM |
| July 29, 2028 | Tuesday | Men’s Gold Medal Match | 6:30 PM | 7:00 AM (+1) |
Note: Individual match fixtures will be confirmed once the six qualifying teams for each tournament are officially announced by the ICC. July 14 and July 21 are designated rest days with no cricket scheduled.
Olympics Cricket 2028 Venue: Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium, Pomona
All cricket matches at the LA 2028 Olympics will be held at a temporary, purpose-built structure at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, a city in Southern California around 50 kilometres from Los Angeles. The Fairgrounds, officially known as Fairplex, is a near-500-acre event complex that has hosted the Los Angeles County Fair since 1922.
The Knight Riders Group announced a $21 million agreement with the Fairplex in March 2026 to construct a permanent cricket stadium known as the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, which will be expanded to a capacity of 15,000 for the Olympics.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Fairplex Grounds in Pomona, with ICC chairman Jay Shah describing it as a major milestone for the game and its 2.5 billion fans worldwide.
Ahead of the Olympic Games, Fairplex Grounds will also serve as the home venue for Major League Cricket franchise Los Angeles Knight Riders for three matches between July 1 and 5, 2028.
Olympics Cricket 2028 Qualification: Continental System Explained
The qualification pathway for LA28 cricket has been one of the most discussed aspects of the tournament’s planning.
While the ICC initially considered selecting the top six ranked teams at a pre-determined cut-off date, several Full Member countries believed this would not allow for wider global representation. The system has since shifted to a continental qualification model, more in line with the Olympic participation ethos.
The qualification framework features five continental spots for top-ranked teams from each Olympic ring region, plus one global qualifier spot.
Key points about the qualification structure:
- One team per continent qualifies, ensuring global spread of participants
- Full Members such as Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka could potentially miss out under this system
- The USA, as host nation, is expected to receive direct entry
- Final qualification details were to be discussed at the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore in July 2025
- ICC Full Members include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe
Will India Play at Olympics Cricket 2028?
India’s participation at Olympics Cricket 2028 is among the most anticipated storylines in world cricket. As the dominant force in Asian cricket and the sport’s largest market, the BCCI’s backing was critical in getting cricket included at LA28.
In 2020, the BCCI at its Annual General Meeting decided to back the ICC’s bid for inclusion of T20 cricket in the 2028 Olympics after receiving clarification from the IOC.
Under the continental qualification model, India would represent Asia. However, because only one team per region qualifies, India would need to navigate a regional qualifier that could also involve strong Asian sides like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Final qualification routes are yet to be officially locked in, with the ICC still finalising the process as of mid-2025.
Olympics Cricket 2028 vs Previous Multi-Sport Appearances
Cricket at the Olympics is a historic milestone, but the sport has appeared at other multi-sport events in recent decades.
| Event | Year | Format | Men’s | Women’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Games | 1998 (Kuala Lumpur) | 50-over | Yes | No |
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 (Birmingham) | T20 | No | Yes |
| Asian Games | 2010, 2014, 2023 | T20 | Yes | Yes |
| Olympics | 1900 (Paris) | Test (unofficial) | Yes | No |
| Olympics | 2028 (Los Angeles) | T20 | Yes | Yes |
LA 2028 marks the first time since 1900 that cricket features at the Olympics, and the first time ever that both men’s and women’s Olympic cricket tournaments are held simultaneously, each with their own set of gold, silver and bronze medals.
What Makes Olympics Cricket 2028 Significant for the Sport
- Global reach: The Olympics platform gives cricket visibility in non-traditional markets across the Americas, Europe and Africa
- Gender parity: Women’s cricket gets equal billing with an independent medal event for the first time at the Games
- T20 format fit: The short-format game suits Olympic TV schedules and first-time viewers
- USA market: Cricket’s inclusion is viewed as a significant opportunity to expand the sport beyond its traditional strongholds and inspire more young people in the Americas to take up the game
- Permanent legacy: The $21 million Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona will leave a lasting venue for cricket in the United States beyond the Games
Final Word: Olympics Cricket 2028 and the Sport’s Biggest Moment
Olympics Cricket 2028 is more than a milestone fixture on the calendar. It is a structural shift for a sport that has spent more than a century on the outside of the world’s largest sporting event.
With a purpose-built stadium in Pomona, a competitive six-team T20 format for both men and women, and a schedule engineered to maximise Indian viewership, LA 2028 sets up cricket for its most globally watched week ever.
The qualification battles, the medal matches and the sheer scale of the Olympic stage will make this a tournament unlike anything in cricket’s history.
