Cricket will return to the Olympic Games in 2028 for the first time in more than a century. The sport will be played in the T20 format at the Los Angeles Games with matches scheduled at the Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, around 50 km from LA. The men’s and women’s events will run from July 12 to July 29.
This will be only the second time cricket will be played at the Olympics. The last and only time was in 1900 when Great Britain beat France in a two-day match in Paris. In 2028, six men’s and six women’s teams will take part with a total of 15 players allowed in each squad.
While cricket’s inclusion has been confirmed, it is still unclear how teams will qualify for the event. With only six spots available in each category, deciding who gets to play has become a topic of discussion. Will ICC rankings decide the participants? Or will there be a separate qualifying tournament?
Also read: LA 2028 Olympics Schedule Announced, Cricket To Be Played From 12-29 July
ICC Weighs Options to Decide Olympic Participants at Annual General Meeting
As per Forbes, The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to discuss this very issue during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore, starting July 17. The ICC has not shared any official plan but one of the main options being considered is a separate qualification tournament.
That said, holding a new tournament will not be easy. The cricket calendar is already crowded with leagues like the IPL taking up fixed slots every year. The Future Tours Programme for each team has already been decided. This makes scheduling a standalone qualifier a challenge.
Other suggestions include using T20I team rankings to decide the final six. However, this might favour stronger teams.
One of the proposals is to use the T20 World Cup 2028 as a qualifying event. A final decision is expected soon.
USA’s Spot in Question Despite Being Olympic Host
One of the big questions the ICC will face is whether to give the USA an automatic place in the LA28 Olympic cricket event. As the host nation, the USA is expected to get a guaranteed spot. But with only six teams allowed in each category, this decision is not easy.
The USA performed well in the T20 World Cup 2024 but they are still not considered a top cricketing nation. At the AGM, ICC members will discuss whether to offer the USA an automatic place in either the men’s or women’s event.
But there is another issue. USA Cricket has already been warned by the ICC over governance problems. If the board fails to meet compliance requirements again, they risk being suspended. If that happens, the USA could lose its chance to play in the Olympics altogether despite being the host nation.
