In a move that marks a historic milestone for global cricket and women’s sport in particular, the LA28 Organising Committee has officially unveiled the preliminary schedule for the 2028 Olympic Games, precisely three years before the grand event. Cricket, included in the Olympics for the first time since 1900, is set to take centre stage from July 12 to 29, 2028, ahead of the official Games’ kickoff on July 14.
Referenced “Minus 2” and “Minus 1” by LA28 organisers, July 12 and 13 will see the official start of select sports, including cricket, ensuring the T20 format has adequate space within the packed Olympic calendar. It is a symbolic gesture too, the sport’s 128-year exile from the Olympics coming to an end with the sound of the coin toss, not the cauldron.
Cricket Returns: Women Included
What makes this return even more momentous is the inclusion of both men’s and women’s six-team T20 competitions, a powerful reflection of how far women’s cricket has come over the past two decades. While full scheduling details, including the gender sequence and match order, are still to be announced later this year, it is expected that women’s matches may follow the men’s competition, running parallel to allow fair exposure, viewership, and fan engagement.
The group stage matches will run across two clusters, July 12 to 18 and July 22 to 28, with both medal matches split into separate days: the first on July 19, and the grand finale reserved for July 29, on the eve of the Closing Ceremony.
Fairgrounds Stadium to Host Cricket’s Grandstage
All matches will be hosted at a newly commissioned Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, located about 48 kilometres east of downtown LA. The venue, known for its historic association with the LA County Fair, is undergoing a legacy-defining transformation into a world-class cricket ground. According to LA28’s official release, the makeover is “purpose-built to highlight cricket,” turning a traditional American fairground into a global cricketing stage.
This move holds significance for women’s cricket, sending a clear message that it deserves premier platforms just as much as the men’s game. The choice of a dedicated venue underscores cricket’s arrival as a marquee Olympic sport, and women’s cricket stands to shine under a global spotlight where new fans and potential athletes can be inspired.
Still Awaiting Clarity Amid Growing Anticipation
Gender scheduling remains a talking point. Asked about when fans can expect to see the women’s fixtures in the program, LA28 stated: “The gender sequence for events in the 2028 Games is not yet available. As stated in today’s release, a more detailed schedule with medal events and gender order will be released later this year.”
With the rise of elite women’s franchise leagues like the WPL and strong international rivalries, Australia, England, and India leading the charge, the women’s T20 format has proven it can captivate audiences on its own. A standalone women’s final, particularly in prime-time Olympic broadcast slots, could be a watershed moment that further elevates the profile of the game.
Tentative Schedule:
| DATE | EVENT STAGE | NOTES |
| 12-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | First Day of Cricket Competition (‘-2’) |
| 13-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 14-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | Olympics Officially Begin |
| 15-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 16-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 17-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 18-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | End of First Set of Matches |
| 19-Jul-28 | Cricket Medal Match (Set 1) | Likely Men’s or Women’s Bronze/Semi-final |
| 20-21-Jul | No Cricket Scheduled | Buffer/Rest Days |
| 22-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage (Set 2) | Second Set Begins |
| 23-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 24-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 25-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 26-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 27-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | |
| 28-Jul-28 | Cricket Group Stage | End of Group Matches |
| 29-Jul-28 | Cricket Medal Match (Final) | Gold Medal/Final (Men or Women) |
| 30-Jul-28 | Olympic Closing Ceremony |
Qualification Still Up in the Air
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to iron out qualification details at its Annual Conference in Singapore from July 17 to 20. While rankings-driven qualification seems the most likely pathway given the congested international calendar, some Associate Member nations are pushing for a separate qualifiers tournament to provide equal opportunity.
Realistically, with Full Member teams like Australia, India, England, South Africa, and New Zealand being frontrunners (in both men’s and women’s competitions), the sixth slot in either category could be a crucial battleground for emergent or Associate teams. For women’s cricket, this may present a landmark opportunity for new nations to enter the global conversation on the Olympic stage.
The Olympic Dream for the Women’s Game
As cricket returns to the Olympics, it is not merely a matter of restoring a historical sport to the global stage; it’s about reimagining the future of cricket through parity, inclusivity, and global reach. For women cricketers, this is not just another tournament; it’s a mega stage. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of a chance to become an Olympian, to stand shoulder to shoulder with legends from every sport, and to inspire the eyes that will watch from every corner of the globe.
The countdown to LA28 has officially begun. And if all cards fall into place, we could witness some of the most defining moments of women’s cricket played not in cricketing heartlands but under the Californian sun, in front of a truly global audience.
