Cricket Set to Commence at LA 2028 Olympics Ahead of Opening Ceremony

The return of cricket to the Olympic stage at Los Angeles (LA) 2028 is eagerly anticipated, with the first match scheduled for July 12, preceding the Games’ formal opening on July 14 by two days.

According to event managers, the cricket tournament will span from July 12 to 29, 2028, with the medal-awarding contests set for July 19 and July 29.

Given that the Games will begin in advance on July 14, organizers are referring to the initial dates as ‘Minus 1’ and ‘Minus 2’ days.

The matches will unfold in a two-part format, with the initial games unfolding from July 12 to 18, followed promptly by medal competitions on July 19.

The subsequent phase is slated for July 22 to 28, culminating in the final showdown on July 29.

While the specific arrangement of competitions remains pending, officials have confirmed that a more comprehensive schedule, encompassing medal events and gender placements, will be disclosed later in the month.

LA28 stated, “The gender sequence for the 2028 Games events is not yet finalized. As indicated in today’s statement, a more detailed schedule, which includes medal events and gender arrangements, will be shared later this year.”

Notably, the cricket event will showcase six teams each in the men’s and women’s divisions. Each team will consist of a 15-member roster, allocating 90 athlete positions for each gender.

Although the definitive qualification process is still under consideration, it is predicted that the six participating teams will be selected based on their T20I rankings as of a specific deadline.

One key question revolves around whether the USA, as the host country, will secure automatic qualification. Should this occur, it would decrease the number of spots available for other nations.