LA 2028 Olympics to Feature Six Cricket Teams, India Qualification Not Guaranteed; Schedule, Format - All you Need to Know

Cricket will officially return to the Olympic fold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking the sport’s comeback after 128 years.

The announcement was confirmed by LA28 organisers on Wednesday, setting the stage for a high-stakes T20 showdown between six top international teams in both men’s and women’s events.

A Historic Return After Over a Century

Cricket last appeared at the Olympics in 1900, in a two-day contest between Great Britain and France in Paris, now considered an unofficial Test match.
Its reintroduction at LA28 will see the sport compete in the fast-paced T20 format, aligning with modern cricket’s most commercially successful format.

Six Teams Each in Men’s and Women’s Events

The six-team format will be implemented in both men's and women’s tournaments.
Each squad will consist of 15 players, with 90 athlete quotas allocated per gender.
The United States, as host nation, is expected to secure a direct berth, leaving five spots up for grabs through a yet-to-be-announced qualification system.

Qualification and Rankings

While the exact qualification criteria remain under wraps, it is anticipated that the top five teams in the ICC rankings as of a pre-determined cut-off date will qualify, alongside the USA.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) currently has 12 full members, including powerhouses such as India, England, Australia, and Pakistan, and 94 associate members.

India's Confirmation Not Guaranteed

India's qualification is not guaranteed. It is likely that the top five ranked teams in T20s at that time will be qualifying, but it remains a grey area for now. India are ranked 1 in T20Is but they will have to maintain their upsurge during that time to ensure their place in the Olympics.

LA 2028 Cricket Tournament Format

With six teams involved, it is likely to be divided into two groups of three teams each. Two teams from each group may likely progress to the semifinals. The semifinal winners will play in Gold Medal match while the losers may take part in Bronze Medal match.

Olympic Expansion: Five New Sports Included

Cricket joins Baseball/softball, Flag football, Lacrosse (sixes), and Squash as the five new sports approved for inclusion at LA28 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023.

Cricket’s Olympic re-entry is not just symbolic—it is strategic. The sport's T20 incarnation, already a global entertainment product, is poised to capture new audiences and amplify cricket’s presence on the world’s biggest sporting stage.