Morning Matches to Engage Global Audiences

LA 2028 organizers have scheduled cricket matches to start at 09:00 AM to cater to lucrative television audiences in India. This strategic timing ensures that fans in South Asia can watch the games at prime viewing hours, significantly boosting viewership and engagement.

Tournament Structure and Venue

The six-team T20 tournament, featuring both men's and women's teams, will commence on July 12, two days before the opening ceremony. All matches will be held at a newly constructed venue at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, located 30 miles from the athletes' village in Los Angeles. The venue will host two games daily, starting at 09:00 and 18:30 Pacific Daylight Time.

Ensuring Quality Play

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are committed to providing the best playing conditions. Unlike the temporary pitches used in the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, the Pomona venue will feature a permanent square to ensure high-quality play. This decision follows criticisms of the drop-in pitches used in New York, which affected the quality of the games.

Global Expansion of Cricket

Kit McConnell, the IOC's sports director, emphasized the importance of cricket's return to the Olympics for its global expansion. "The vision the ICC has outlined for us is aimed at providing the best players and the best teams on the Olympic stage," McConnell said. This move is expected to significantly boost cricket's popularity worldwide, especially in non-traditional cricket markets.

Future of Olympic Cricket

With three years to go, the excitement is building around cricket's inclusion in the Olympics. The ICC is set to discuss qualification processes at their Annual General Meeting in Singapore, starting on July 17. The discussions will focus on whether T20 rankings or qualifying tournaments will determine the participating teams.