Cricket’s Olympic return confirmed | Local Sports

Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games after a 128-year absence, with the venue now officially announced, yesterday.

The Fairgrounds in Pomona, Southern California, has been confirmed as the host for cricket’s comeback at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The excitement around cricket’s Olympic revival has grown since its inclusion was confirmed, and the IOC Executive Board finalised key details on April 9, including player quotas and the number of teams.

Both the men’s and women’s T20 competitions will feature six teams each, with a 90-player quota per gender, allowing squads of up to 15 players per nation.

The full schedule will be announced closer to the Games.

ICC Chair Jay Shah praised the milestone for the global sport, which many had believed deserved its place on the Olympic landscape.

“We welcome the announcement of the venue for cricket at LA28, as it marks a major step in our preparations for the sport’s Olympic return. Cricket’s inclusion is a fantastic opportunity to reach new audiences through the fast-paced T20 format.”

Cricket’s Olympic return was confirmed in October 2023, alongside other new sports such as baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash. The T20 format has previously appeared in multi-sport events, including the Asian Games (2010, ‘14, ‘23) and the 2022 Commonwealth Games (women’s T20).

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