New Zealand and Pakistan potentially facing exclusion from the 2028 Olympic Games
The qualification process for the men's cricket tournament at the upcoming LA28 Olympics is shaping up to be a tense affair, with a regional qualification system overseen by the International Cricket Council (ICC) expected to be the deciding factor.
Six teams will compete in the T20 format, and the USA, as hosts, is likely to secure automatic entry. However, the remaining spots are up for grabs, primarily through regional competitions. The exact qualification criteria are yet to be confirmed, with the ICC's annual conference currently underway as of July 2025.
Currently, New Zealand and Pakistan find themselves at risk of missing out on qualification due to the regional format. Qualification appears to be highly dependent on regional slots, with the Americas region potentially having one slot allocated either to the USA as hosts or to a Caribbean team, should the USA fail to meet specific National Governing Body (NGB) recognition requirements set by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
This potential scenario has put the West Indies' participation into question, prompting Cricket West Indies to propose an international qualifying tournament among their member nations to decide their representative if a spot remains.
If qualifications were determined by current rankings, both Pakistan and New Zealand would miss out on the Asian slot to top-ranked India. New Zealand, currently fourth in the men's T20I rankings, trails Oceania's top team, Australia. Pakistan, currently eighth in the rankings, may also miss out on qualification for the LA28 Games.
It's important to note that the qualification process for other continents has not been fully disclosed. However, each of five continents - Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the Americas - will have representation in the LA28 Games.
In summary, the qualification process centers on six teams per gender competing in T20 cricket at LA28, with the host country granted a probable automatic berth. Regional qualification and governance compliance are key factors shaping the final list of participating men's teams, with some traditionally strong cricket nations facing uncertainty regarding their Olympic participation due to the new qualification structure.
Cricket is set to return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 at the LA28 Games, promising an exciting and much-anticipated competition. Stay tuned for further updates on the qualification process as they become available.
[1] ICC Annual Conference (2025) [2] Cricket West Indies Proposes Qualifying Tournament (2025) [3] ICC Adopts Regional Qualification System for LA28 Games (2025)
- Amidst the ongoing ICC Annual Conference (2025), cricket news is buzzing with discussions about the qualification process for international cricket, particularly for the LA28 Olympics, where sports enthusiasts eagerly await the return of cricket to the Olympic Games after 128 years.
- As the ICC Adopts Regional Qualification System for LA28 Games (2025), teams like New Zealand and Pakistan, currently fourth and eighth respectively in the men's T20I rankings, are closely monitoring regional competitions as they strive to secure qualification for the LA28 Games.
