‘China are serious about winning gold’: Steve Waugh's massive statement on cricket's inclusion at 2028 LA Olympics

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh stated China has taken cricket's inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics seriously and began their preparations in pursuit of a gold medal. The sport of cricket made a return to the Olympics after more than a century. The last and only time cricket featured at the Olympics was in 1900 in Paris.

Cricket has existed in China since the 1800s but played their first international game only in 2009 ACC Trophy Challenge. Despite being granted an ICC full membership in T20Is, China played their first T20I only in 2023. Since then China have played 11 T20Is, winning just two and losing nine games.

“As soon as cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics was announced, China started building a team," Waugh told ANI. “They are serious about winning gold. T20 is massive now. It’s billions of dollars, and it’s growing every day. Test cricket will survive, but T20 will dominate. Players will soon be contracted mainly to franchises. Test matches might even need special permissions,” he added.

China has been one of the most dominant countries at the Olympics. They send some of the strongest contingents every year and come out among the top five in each edition of the Games.

Cricket at 2028 LA Olympics 2028

Following the approval of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, six teams will compete in T20I format in both men's and women's tournaments. The Fairgrounds in Pomona, Southern California, will host cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Each team will have a squad of 15 players which means both men's and women's tournaments will be having 90 athletes each. The format of the tournaments are yet to be announced. Besides cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash will also be a part of the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.