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Key Points

Cricket makes a historic return to the Olympics after 128 years with T20 matches at LA 2028. Six teams each in men’s and women’s categories will compete at Pomona’s Fairplex Stadium. The tournament runs from July 12-29, featuring double-headers and medal matches. LA Mayor Karen Bass highlights the Games' inclusive legacy and growing cricket popularity in the US.

Key Points: LA Olympics 2028 Cricket Starts July 12 in Pomona Fairgrounds

  • Cricket debuts in Olympics after 128 years with T20 format
  • Six teams each in men’s and women’s categories
  • Matches at Pomona’s Fairplex Stadium near LA
  • Medal matches scheduled for July 20 and 29
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Cricket at LA Olympics 2028 to kickstart from July 12 onwards

Cricket returns to Olympics after 128 years with T20 matches at LA 2028, featuring six men’s and women’s teams from July 12-29.

"When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighbourhood as we host a Games for all – Karen Bass, LA Mayor"

Los Angeles, July 15

The cricket tournament during the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 will kickstart from July 12 onwards, with the medal matches scheduled for July 20 and 29. The venue for the matches will be a temporary, purpose-built Fairgrounds Stadium, built in Pomona, about 50 kilometres from LA, reported ESPNCricinfo on Tuesday.

Six teams in both men's and women's cricket and a total of 180 players, will be participating in cricket's tournament to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 in T20 format. Each team can name a squad of 15 members for the tournament.

Most matches will take place as double-headers, with no matches scheduled for July 14 and 21. The matches will kickstart at 9.00am and 6.30pm local time. The same will be followed for medal matches as well.

The Fairgrounds Stadium, officially going by the name Fairplex, is a nearly 500-acre complex which has hosted the LA County Fair since 1922 and is a regular venue for concerts, trade shows, sports and cultural events.

"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," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"We are already delivering that legacy as we announce that 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 statement added.

This is only the second time the sport has made an appearance at the Olympics since 1900. Back then, only two teams, Great Britain and France, had played a two-day match, with the former winning the gold medal.

Cricket's inclusion in the Olympics demonstrates its growing popularity, with women's cricket making its Commonwealth Games debut in 2022 at Birmingham. Meanwhile, both men's and women's cricket have been part of the Asian Games programme since 2010, 2014, and 2023.

Recently, during the ICC T20 World Cup last year, the USA co-hosted the event along with the West Indies, with Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York hosting a number of matches. The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York also hosted one of the biggest cricketing fixtures of the tournament, the clash between Asian arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As an American cricket fan, I'm thrilled to see this happening in LA! Though I wonder if a temporary stadium will do justice to the sport. The matches should have been at proper cricket grounds like in Florida or New York.
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Ananya R
Only 6 teams? That's disappointing. Should have at least 10-12 teams to make it more competitive. Hope BCCI sends our best players and doesn't treat it like a second-tier tournament.
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Vikram M
The India-Pakistan match in NY during T20 WC was epic! Hope we get to see that rivalry in Olympics too. Though the timing difference will be tough - 6:30pm in LA means 7am next day in India 😴
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Kavya N
So happy for women's cricket getting this platform! After CWG success, our women's team can really shine here. Hope they get equal coverage and support as men's team 🤞
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Michael C
Interesting choice of venue. Pomona is quite far from downtown LA - hope they arrange good transport for fans. The county fairgrounds might actually create a fun carnival atmosphere for cricket!
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Priya S
With IPL and other leagues, our players are already overworked. Hope BCCI manages their

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