After a wait of 128 years, cricket is set to return to the Olympic Games. While sports fans were deprived of the cricketing action at the biggest spectacle. Now, it won’t be the case. The LA28 Organising Committee has confirmed that the men’s and women’s cricket tournaments will kick off before the official opening ceremony of the Games, with matches beginning on July 12 at the newly constructed Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, California. Officially, the LA28 Olympics will begin on July 14.
Olympics to cater to Indian audience?
What’s most notable is how the entire schedule has been tailored with one specific audience in mind in India. Morning matches will begin at 9:00 AM PDT (that’s 9:30 PM IST), while evening fixtures at 6:30 PM PDT will be shown live in India at 7:00 AM IST, making it ideal for broadcasters, sponsors, and fans in cricket’s biggest market. This is according to the BBC.
It’s clear that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are using cricket’s Olympic re-entry to cater well to the South Asian market.
The entire tournament will be staged in Pomona, around 30 miles from the LA Athletes’ Village, and unlike the controversial temporary pitch in New York during the 2024 T20 World Cup, this venue is designed for permanence and potentially long-term use by T20 franchises.
As for the format, it might be tricky for some, but the teams will be divided into two groups of three. However, the points standings will be combined. Each team will play four games, and the top two teams will fight for the medal match.
FAQs on LA28 Olympic Cricket Tournament
- When will cricket matches be played at the LA Olympics?
Cricket will begin on July 12, 2028, two days before the opening ceremony. The tournaments will conclude on July 29, a day before the Games wrap up.
- Where will the matches be held?
All matches will take place at a purpose-built Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, located about 48 km from downtown Los Angeles.
- What time will the matches be played?
Each day will have two matches: - Morning game at 9:00 AM PDT (9:30 PM IST)
- Evening game at 6:30 PM PDT (7:00 AM IST next day in India)
Evening matches will be played under floodlights.
- How many teams will take part?
Each of the men’s and women’s tournaments will feature six teams.
- What’s the tournament format?
Two groups of three teams each. (T20 format).
Each team plays the other two in its group once.
Then, every team plays two cross-group matches, avoiding teams that finished in the same position in the opposite group.
Final rankings from all four games decide who plays for medals.
| Match No. | Fixture | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A1 vs A2 | Group Stage |
| 2 | A1 vs A3 | Group Stage |
| 3 | A2 vs A3 | Group Stage |
| 4 | B1 vs B2 | Group Stage |
| 5 | B2 vs B3 | Group Stage |
| 6 | B1 vs B3 | Group Stage |
| 7 | A1 vs B2 | Cross-Pool |
| 8 | A1 vs B3 | Cross-Pool |
| 9 | A2 vs B1 | Cross-Pool |
| 10 | A2 vs B3 | Cross-Pool |
| 11 | A3 vs B1 | Cross-Pool |
| 12 | A3 vs B2 | Cross-Pool |
| 13 | Top 2 teams | Gold Medal |
| 14 | 3rd vs 4th team | Bronze Medal |
- How are medal matches scheduled?
The gold and silver medal match will be between the top two-ranked sides.
The bronze medal match will feature the 3rd and 4th placed teams.
Medal matches will be held on July 19 (women) and July 29 (men).
- How will teams qualify?
That’s yet to be decided. The ICC will take it up at its Annual Conference in Singapore (July 17–20). Options on the table include: - Qualification via T20I rankings
A dedicated Olympic qualifying tournament
Invites based on regional strength or World Cup results
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