The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday announced the dates for cricket\u2019s return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, stating that matches will be played on June 12, 2028.<\/p>\n
Cricket is returning<\/a> to the Olympics for the first time since the Paris Games in 1900 with a proposed six-team Twenty20 format for men and women in Los Angeles. The IOC had said<\/a> in October 2023 that cricket\u2019s inclusion had the potential to activate and engage new audiences, with the sport\u2019s worldwide fan base estimated at 2.5 billion people.<\/p>\n A press release<\/a> issued today said the sport\u2019s highly anticipated return was revealed with the official competition schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cricket \u201cwill play out starting July 12, with the 20th and 29th of the same month earmarked for the medal matches\u201d, the press release read.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no cricket matches scheduled on July 14 and 21 at LA28,\u201d it added. \u201cMost of the matchdays will be double headers, with the games starting from 9am and 6:30pm as per local Los Angeles time. It\u2019s the same for the medal matches.\u201d<\/p>\n Six teams will be competing in each of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments. A total of 90 athlete quotas have been allocated for each gender, allowing every team to name a 15-member squad.<\/p>\n The press release adds that all matches at the Olympics will be held in a temporary, purpose-built venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona<\/a>, about 50 kilometres from Los Angeles.<\/p>\n