Cricket is making a comeback in the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and this time, six teams will be in the mix. This was announced by the organizers on Wednesday.
The last time cricket appeared at the Olympics was way back in 1900 in Paris, where Great Britain and France played a match. It’s regarded as an unofficial Test now. For LA 2028, the sport will be played in the T20 format with both men’s and women’s competitions featuring six teams each. Every team can bring along a squad of 15 players, totaling 90 spots for each gender.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has 12 full members, including countries like Afghanistan, Australia, and India, plus 94 more that are associate members.
Although the qualification criteria for cricket at the 2028 Games haven’t been announced yet, it looks like the USA will get an automatic spot since they’re hosting, meaning five teams will need to qualify. Cricket is one of five new sports added to the next Olympics, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) giving the green light for its inclusion along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash.