Cricket Returns to Olympics After 128 Years as ICC Confirms LA 2028 Qualification Rules

Cricket is officially set to return to the Olympic Games after a historic absence of 128 years, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) announcing the qualification system for the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The sport was last featured at the Olympic Games at the 1900 Paris Olympics and will be back in the long-anticipated fast-bowling T20 format.

ICC Confirms Olympic Cricket Qualification System

The ICC said there will be six teams competing in both the men’s and women’s events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with qualification via regional ranking and a worldwide qualification tournament.

In the women’s competition, Australia, India, Great Britain and South Africa are all qualified. The remainder will be filled by the top teams from the qualifying regions.

The ICC Men’s T20 International rankings on December 31, 2026, will be used for the men’s event. Teams that do not qualify automatically will get another chance in the ICC Olympic Qualifier in 2027.

USA Must Finish in Top 15 for Olympic Qualification

The United States, the host nation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, does not qualify automatically for the sport of cricket. Rather, the ICC has stated that the men’s or women’s USA team has to be in the top 15 in the ICC rankings to qualify for the Olympic tournament.

The West Indies, meanwhile, will not automatically qualify as Olympic qualification depends on individual national Olympic committees and not on regional combined teams. The host for the Caribbean will be decided in a ICC qualifying tournament.

15-Player Squads and 28 Total Matches

Each participating nation will be allowed to name a 15-player squad for the Olympic competition.

The men’s and women’s cricket tournaments will feature a combined total of 28 matches, with all games being played in the internationally popular T20 format, which was chosen for its fast-paced and spectator-friendly nature.

Historic Return for Cricket

The addition of cricket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is a landmark moment for the sport’s present and future. The return to the Olympic stage will likely further enhance the popularity of the sport on the international stage, open up new markets, and offer players the chance to play for Olympic medals for the first time in over 100 years.

The ICC considers that the Olympic Games have the potential to bring about faster growth of the game globally and will draw a new audience to the sport in time for upcoming world events.