Cricket will finally make its comeback at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics with the T20 format confirmed for both men and women.
The event will only feature six teams, which has already led to questions about who will qualify. At a recent ICC meeting in Singapore, officials discussed a plan to use regional qualifiers to decide most of the slots. Though the final format is yet to be officially announced, places are likely to be filled through this system.
Many boards are worried the qualification pathway could leave out some strong cricket nations. The regional approach would guarantee spots to the top-ranked teams in each continent, rather than simply picking the best-ranked sides overall.
Also read: IOC eyes huge windfall from LA 2028 Olympics broadcast deal in India after cricket's grand return
India Get Direct Entry, Pakistan Miss Out - Report
A report from The Guardian says India will automatically qualify for LA28 because they are currently the highest-ranked T20 team in Asia. This system would also see Australia (Oceania), Great Britain (Europe) and South Africa (Africa) secure their places.
This leaves teams like Pakistan and New Zealand at risk. Pakistan, despite having a strong T20 record, would miss out under the current criteria. New Zealand could also be excluded because Australia lead the Oceania rankings. Reports suggest that both boards have already raised their concerns about the proposed system.
As the host nation, the USA is expected to get a place from the Americas region. If USA Cricket’s administrative and financial issues continue, that spot might instead go to the West Indies.
Final Spot Still Unclear
The ICC has not yet explained how the last available spot will be decided.
Many believe the strongest teams should be at the Olympics, especially since it’s cricket’s first appearance at the Games in over a century. However the ICC wants to follow the IOC’s focus on giving every continent representation.
This has created a tricky situation. While India and a few others already look secure, major sides like Pakistan and New Zealand could be forced to watch from the sidelines when cricket finally returns to the Olympics.
Also read: ICC Confirm Cricket’s Olympic Comeback in 2028 with California Stadium as Host
