“Cricket (T20), a globally renowned sport which was added to the 2028 Olympics sport program in 2023, will make its Southern California debut at the Fairgrounds in Pomona in a temporary, purpose-built structure,” the organisers of the Games revealed.
Cricket will be played during the Los Angeles Olympic Games in the City of Pomona on the West Coast of the United States, according to the LA28. Cricket will return to the Olympic stage for the first time in over a century on the West Coast, according to the LA2028 , which also announced the Games’ sites.
As cricket returns to the Games after 128 years, there will be six teams in each of the men’s and women’s divisions at LA2028 .
The announcement has been welcomed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “Even though cricket is a very popular sport, its inclusion in the Olympics in the thrilling, fast-paced T20 style will be a great chance to push boundaries. It should also attract new fans. ICC Chair Jay Shah stated, “I want to thank LA28 and the International Olympic Committee for their support on behalf of the ICC and look forward to working with them and ICC Members in order to prepare for LA28 and make cricket a huge success there.”
Originally, cricket matches were to be held on the East Coast, mostly in New York, which hosted eight Twenty20 World Cup matches the previous year. After a review of the proposal, LA28 decided to settle upon a location in Southern California.