Cricket to be Included in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with 6 Teams for Men and Women
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to include cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams scheduled to compete in the T20 format. This will mark the return of cricket to the Olympic stage after 128 years, as the sport was last featured in the 1900 Paris Olympics.
In the 2028 Olympics, the cricket events will be played in the T20 format, with each men’s and women’s tournament featuring 6 teams. A total of 90 players, with 15 players per team, will participate in each event. The International Cricket Council (ICC) currently has 12 full members, and the IOC’s Executive Board has approved the event program and athlete quotas.
However, the venues for the cricket matches in the Los Angeles Olympics have yet to be determined.
### Challenges for Pakistan’s Qualification
Pakistan may face challenges in qualifying for the Olympics, as the current ICC rankings place Pakistan’s men’s team at 7th and the women’s team at 8th position. According to the qualification criteria, the top 6 teams in the ICC rankings for both men and women will secure spots for the Olympics. Pakistan will need to improve its ranking to qualify.
### Details of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature a total of 11,198 athletes competing across 31 sports, with 5 host-specific sports also included. A total of 351 medal events will be held, including 55 in aquatics and 48 in athletics.
Out of the 36 sports, 5,543 male athletes and 5,655 female athletes will participate. Of the 351 medal events, 161 will be for women, 165 for men, and 25 mixed events.
### New Additions to the Sports Program
In a historic move, football will feature 16 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams. Swimming will also include 50-meter backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke events for the first time. Additionally, the IOC has approved new medal events in sports climbing and rowing.
As part of the host program, squash will feature 16 male and 16 female players in the draw. Flag football, lacrosse, softball, and cricket will all include 6 teams each. Water polo will also see the addition of two more women’s teams.
The inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics is a significant milestone for the sport, and it is expected to generate considerable interest globally, especially in cricket-playing nations like Pakistan, India, and Australia.
