Cricket at LA Olympics 2028 to start onward July 12

POMONA: Cricket’s return to the LA Olympics 2028 will begin onward July 12, with the medal matches scheduled to be played on July 20 and 29.

The matches at LA Olympics will be played at the Fairgrounds Stadium, a temporary venue in the Pomona’s city, away from Los Angeles.

Teams’ format

Six teams in total each in the men’s and women’s sections, and a total of 180 players, will compete in the T20 format, with a squad of 15-members to be named by each team to play.

Most match days will be double-headers however there will be no match playing on July 14 and 21, with slotted matches to begin sharp at 9.00am and 6.30pm (local time). The same match timing goes for the medal matches as well.

Fairgrounds Stadium

The Fairgrounds Stadium, also known as Fairplex, that has hosted the LA County Fair since 1922, is a nearly 500-acre complex and serving as a venue for concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and cultural gatherings as well.

Los Angeles Mayor’s statement

“When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighbourhood as we host a Games for all and work to ensure it leaves a monumental legacy.” Karen Bass, the Los Angeles Mayor, informed in a statement.

“We are already delivering that legacy as we announce there have been more than one million enrollments in PlayLA.”

“I want to thank LA28 and the International Olympic Committee for making these programs possible and for their continued work to host the greatest Games yet.”

The cricket return in the Olympics comes for the first time since 1900. Then, Great Britain and France were the only two teams which had competed in a two-day match, with Great Britain winning the gold medal.

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The cricket’s coming back at and inclusion in the Olympics reflects the growing stature of the sport. Women’s cricket made its CWG debut in Birmingham in 2022, while both the men’s and women’s games have been part of the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2023.

Recently, Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York hosted a number of matches at the 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.