Cricket, which has been absent from the Olympics for over a century, has taken a step closer to returning to the Games after the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board approved its inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
IOC president Thomas Bach announced this decision after a meeting in Mumbai, with LA organizers proposing Twenty20 cricket as one of the five new sports, alongside baseball/softball, flag football (non-contact American football), squash, and lacrosse.
A vote during the IOC session in Mumbai on Monday, a city known for its passionate cricket following as it hosts the men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup, will determine the final selection of sports for the 2028 program.
Bach highlighted the opportunity for the IOC to engage with new athletes and fan communities, acknowledging the growing popularity of T20 cricket and expressing anticipation for welcoming the world’s best players to the United States in 2028.
Los Angeles organizers have suggested a six-team event for both men’s and women’s T20 cricket, with the United States participating as the host nation. After formal ratification on Monday, the committee will decide the specifics regarding the number of teams and qualification criteria.
Cricket last appeared in the Olympics in 1900 when a British team defeated a side from France. The sport has been working toward a return to the Games for over a decade, encouraged by the Olympic movement.
