England has been a powerhouse of cricket and one of the Top Three boards in World Cricket but the LA 2028 Olympics is a different challenge all together and we may see England Player playing under the banner of Great Britain. Cricket Scotland and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have initiated discussions to create a unified cricket team representing Great Britain for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The development was confirmed by Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade during a conversation with the BBC on Friday.
The upcoming LA Games, scheduled from July 14 to July 30, 2028, will mark cricket’s historic return to the Olympics after a 128-year hiatus. The last time cricket featured at the Olympics was in Paris in 1900, when Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match, securing a 158-run victory.
Six-Team T20 Events Confirmed for LA28
Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved the cricket format for LA28. The sport will be contested through six-team men’s and women’s T20 tournaments, with each team permitted to include 15 players in their squad.
In light of this announcement, UK cricket authorities are working to align with Olympic requirements. “We have a really good working relationship with the ECB, so we have been in talks with them and are in the process of establishing a Team GB cricket entity,” Lindblade stated.
Team GB Structure in Line with Olympic Norms
Athletes from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland usually participate under the British Olympic Association (BOA) banner as Team GB at the Olympics. Forming a combined cricket squad would follow that same model, though some sports like men's football have faced difficulties uniting the home nations under one Olympic banner—except at the London 2012 Games.Lindblade believes that the limited number of teams participating in LA28 enhances the prospects for a GB team:
“That’s what’s required by the British Olympic Association (BOA) for a British team to compete at the Olympic Games. So it’s really interesting—with six teams in the competition, we would have an opportunity through the GB concept. So, exciting times, and we’ll continue to liaise with the ECB and our colleagues at LA28 and the ICC.”
ECB Reaffirms Commitment to Olympic OpportunityThe ECB also echoed Lindblade’s enthusiasm, highlighting the broader opportunity that LA28 presents for the game’s global appeal.
“With England and Wales also set to host World Cups in 2026 and 2030, LA 2028 presents another great chance to grow the game and inspire new audiences,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.
A Step Toward Global Recognition
The men's England T20 team is now second in the world while the women's team is ranked third. In contrast, both men's and women's teams of Scotland must rank outside the top ten. Nonetheless, a combined Team GB side may provide a competitive and exciting unit, especially in the Olympic format of T20 cricket.
The dream of having a Team GB cricket team is increasingly becoming a possibility with more discussions expected between the ECB, Cricket Scotland, ICC, and LA28 organizing committee in the coming months.