Cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympics will follow a surprising new path not based on ICC rankings but on continental representation and play-offs, opening the door for emerging nations and Team GB’s debut. Here’s how the six-team T20 showdown at LA 2028 is taking shape.
Cricket’s re-entry into the Olympic Games after 128 years will feature a dramatic shift in qualification, favouring geography over world rankings. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Richard Thompson revealed that qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games will follow a continental format, aligning with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) “five-ring” principle.
Instead of the top six ICC-ranked teams gaining automatic entry, qualification will be distributed across continents, with play-offs potentially determining final spots. “We are there by invitation of the IOC and must follow their rules,” Thompson said during an interview on BBC Test Match Special.
According to Thompson, each continent will field a team, with Europe’s slot likely being contested between Ireland and a combined Great Britain squad that would unite England, Scotland, and Wales. As host nation, the USA will automatically qualify, freeing up one more spot for a global play-off, offering all full-member nations a fair chance at participation.
Cricket’s Olympic version will take place as a T20 format, featuring both men’s and women’s teams, with matches starting on July 12, 2028, two days ahead of the official opening ceremony. All games will be played at a custom-built venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, California, with two matches per day at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM PDT.
Thompson also expressed hopes for expanding the number of participating teams in future Games. With Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics and potential bids from India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for 2036, the possibility of cricket gaining a permanent spot in the Olympic calendar is gaining traction.
Additionally, discussions are underway to explore cricket’s inclusion in the Paralympics, signaling a broader push to globalise the sport beyond traditional markets. “China will only focus on sports that are part of the Olympics,” Thompson said, suggesting Hong Kong could be a key outpost for spreading cricket in Asia.
“The opportunity to grow cricket globally is very real. It starts now, and we’ll certainly see that play out in 2028,” Thompson concluded, confident the sport’s Olympic journey will redefine its global footprint.
