The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalized the qualification process for cricket at the 2028 Olympics. Reports from the British media outlet The Guardian suggest that Pakistan is unlikely to qualify for the men’s event. Following discussions at its annual general meeting in Singapore, the ICC has approved a regional qualification format to determine the participating teams.
The men’s tournament at the Los Angeles Games will feature six teams, with one automatic slot reserved for the host nation, the United States. Under the proposed model, the highest-ranked team from each continent will secure a spot, ensuring global representation.
This means India is anticipated to claim Asia’s slot, while Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe) will also qualify automatically. With these allocations, nations like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand will miss out on direct qualification.
One of the Caribbean nations could potentially replace the USA if their governance issues are not resolved, following the ICC’s recent call for USA Cricket’s Board to resign this month. Both Pakistan and New Zealand have expressed discontent with the ICC’s decision. However, while the decision has yet to be formally ratified by the board, it is considered unlikely to be reversed.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) actively advocated for the regional qualification system, aiming to ensure global representation and enhance cricket’s international appeal. This format, however, leaves just one spot open after India, Australia, South Africa, Great Britain, and the USA have secured their places.
The ICC will ultimately determine how this sixth and final berth will be awarded. Speculation suggests it could be granted to a representative team from the Caribbean Islands, similar to the arrangement during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Barbados represented the region.
Cricket’s Return to the Olympics and Format Details
Both the men’s and women’s cricket tournaments at LA 2028 will be played in the T20 format. The ICC has already confirmed that both competitions will run from July 12 to July 29, 2028. The women’s medal match is scheduled for July 20, with the men’s final on July 29.
Cricket will mark its return to the Olympic stage after a 128-year absence. The sport’s only previous appearance was at the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match to secure the gold medal.
