The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized the qualification format for cricket’s highly anticipated return to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. However, this move could come as a major blow to Pakistan’s hopes of featuring in the men’s cricket event, as reports indicate that the country is unlikely to secure a place under the new structure.
According to details published by The Guardian, the ICC, during its Annual General Meeting held in Singapore, approved a regional qualification format. The system is designed to ensure broad international representation, in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) aim of promoting cricket globally.
The format reserves six slots for participating teams in the men’s T20 tournament, with one place automatically allotted to the host nation—the United States.
Under this structure, the remaining five spots will be distributed to the highest-ranked teams from each continent: Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. This means cricket powerhouses like India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe) are almost guaranteed spots based on current rankings.
The final slot from the Americas is currently assigned to the USA, but could potentially go to a Caribbean nation if USA Cricket fails to resolve ongoing governance issues—an area where the ICC has already expressed serious concern, calling for the board’s resignation.
This qualification model leaves no immediate path for cricketing nations like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand to qualify directly. The ICC has yet to decide how the sixth and final berth will be awarded, but it is speculated that it might go to a representative team from the Caribbean, following a precedent set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The decision has sparked dissatisfaction among cricketing nations left out, especially Pakistan and New Zealand. Despite objections, the ICC is expected to ratify the qualification system, with little likelihood of changes.
The T20-format cricket events at LA 2028 are scheduled to run from July 12 to July 29. The women’s medal match is set for July 20, while the men’s final will take place on July 29. Cricket’s inclusion in LA 2028 marks its Olympic return after 128 years—the last appearance being at the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain won the gold medal in a lone match against France.
This qualification model, while advancing the globalisation agenda of the sport, may significantly reshape Olympic cricket’s competitive landscape and has already generated controversy among prominent cricket-playing nations left outside the initial allocation.
