Cricket will return to the Olympic Games, having been absent from the event for 128 years following its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket will be confirmed on Wednesday by the organiser as an LA 2028 sport, with six teams in each leg of the men’s and women’s T20 competitions on the first day.
Only cricket has appeared in the Olympics two times, the first in the Paris Games of 1900. The match between Great Britain and France in that edition was represented as a single match, which was now regarded as an unofficial Test. Bringing cricket back into the Olympic fold is also seen as a major step for the sport’s global reach in regions where it is still unformed.
A total of 90 athlete quotas will be available in each of the men’s and women’s competitions in the 2028 Games, with each of the participating teams able to name a 15-man squad for the Games. It is to be noted that the format of the event chosen is T20 cricket, which has become immensely popular around the world for its fast-paced and thrill-ride games.
While the exact qualification criteria have not yet been settled, it is generally drawn that the host nation, the United States of America, will represent itself in both men’s and women’s categories automatically. At some cut-off date, based on ICC rankings, the remaining five slots are likely to be filled. ICC consists of 12 full members and 94 associate member countries among which are major cricketing nations like India, Australia, England, Pakistan and South Africa.
Among other things, the LA 2028 Olympics will feature 28 more sports with 58 medal events, including cricket. It is expected that the return of cricket will see a massive global audience and give a new dimension to the Olympic spectacle.
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