Cricket is set to make a long-awaited return to the Olympic stage. At the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a total of six men’s and six women’s teams will compete, with 28 matches scheduled across both tournaments. This announcement was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during a recent meeting held in Dubai.
Sanjay Gupta, CEO of the ICC, commented, “Including cricket in the Olympics marks a significant milestone for the sport. It will open doors for government funding and private investment, which are crucial for the development of cricket infrastructure worldwide.” He added, “The regular inclusion of cricket in multi-sport events such as the Asian Games, Pan American Games, and African Games will popularise the game in new regions. This, in turn, will increase investment at both the high-performance and grassroots levels.”
For the men’s tournament, six spots have been allocated: five automatic qualifications for the top teams from each continental region and one spot reserved for the host nation, the United States. The remaining team will be decided through a qualifying tournament.
The table below outlines the likely participants for the men’s event based on current rankings:
| Region | Country | Qualification Details |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | India | Direct qualification |
| Oceania | Australia | Direct qualification |
| Europe | England | Direct qualification |
| Africa | South Africa | Direct qualification |
| Americas | United States | Host nation qualification |
| Qualifier | New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, West Indies | Top team from qualifying tournament |
Teams such as Bangladesh will now have to prove their highest level of skill in the qualifying stage. For Bangladeshi cricket fans, this presents a particularly tough challenge, as success would secure their nation a place on the global Olympic stage.
The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics represents not only international recognition but also opens new horizons for the growth and professional development of cricket in Bangladesh and across the world.