Cricket is officially poised to return to the Olympics after more than a century, with the Los Angeles (LA) 2028 Games marking the sport’s long-awaited comeback. The announcement has ignited enthusiasm across the cricketing world, where fans view it as a pivotal opportunity to elevate the sport’s global profile.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally released key information regarding the qualification process and logistical arrangements for the event.
According to the ICC, the cricket tournament at LA 2028 will feature six teams each in the men’s and women’s categories, with matches scheduled to commence on July 12, 2028. The event will be held at the newly constructed Fairgrounds Stadium, situated approximately 50 kilometers outside Los Angeles.
The qualification framework is designed to ensure broad international representation. As expected, each of the five regions—Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas—will have one top-ranked team qualify automatically and the sixth spot will be awarded through a global qualifying tournament. As hosts, the United States will receive direct entry.
As it stands, India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), the USA (Americas), and Great Britain or England (Europe) are set to qualify directly, leaving one remaining berth to be decided via the qualifiers. For Pakistan to secure a place, it must win the qualifying tournament.
In the lead-up to the Olympics, cricket will feature in several major multi-sport events, including the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, the African Games 2027 in Egypt, and the Pan American Games 2027 in Peru—each contributing to the sport’s expanding Olympic footprint.
Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed that cricket could become a regular fixture at the Olympics beyond LA 2028, with discussions already underway to include the sport in the Brisbane 2032 Games. If successful, cricket’s presence at consecutive Olympic editions could reshape its global trajectory, transforming it from a Commonwealth-centric pastime into a truly international spectacle.
For Pakistan and other cricketing nations, LA 2028 may represent more than just another tournament—it could signal the dawn of cricket’s Olympic era.