After more than a century, cricket is all set to return to the Olympic Games and India is expected to be part of the historic moment.
The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will feature both men’s and women’s cricket competitions, and as per reports, the qualification process could see a few big names missing out, including Pakistan and New Zealand.
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According to The Guardian, India have secured direct qualification from Asia for the men’s event, while Australia will represent Oceania.
These selections are based on ICC rankings and a new regional qualification system that has been adopted to ensure global representation.
Pakistan is likely to miss the 2028 Olympic cricket tournament
The qualification rules, reportedly finalised during the ICC’s Annual General Meeting in Singapore, rely on regional rankings rather than a global list.
The top-ranked teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa are given automatic entry, while USA qualify as hosts, representing the Americas.
Under this system, India has topped the Asian rankings and thus earned a place. On the other hand, Pakistan have failed to secure that position and may miss out altogether.
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The format, while designed to increase continental diversity, has not gone down well with all nations.
Cricket boards from Pakistan and New Zealand are understood to be unhappy with the decision, as both nations could now be spectators at a moment when the sport returns to the Olympics after 128 years.
Qualification system for LA Olympics 2028 cricket
Both the men’s and women’s cricket events will feature six teams each, and matches will be played in T20 format.
The cricket tournament will be held from July 12 to July 29, 2028, at the Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, located around 50 km from Los Angeles.
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Here’s how the men’s qualification is shaping up so far:
| Region | Qualified Team |
|---|---|
| Asia | India |
| Oceania | Australia |
| Europe | Great Britain |
| Africa | South Africa (likely) |
| Americas | USA (hosts) |
| 6th Team | TBD |
This regional-based selection ensures that at least one team from each major cricketing continent gets the chance to play.
However, this also means teams like Pakistan, New Zealand, and possibly the West Indies (whose status remains uncertain due to governance issues) are at risk of missing out.
What about women’s cricket at LA 2028? How will teams qualify?
Unlike the men’s event, qualification for the women’s cricket tournament will be decided through performance at the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England from June 12 to July 5, 2026.
A total of 12 women’s teams will take part in that tournament and top finishers will likely earn Olympic berths.