Revised Format for Olympics Qualification: Potential Exclusion of New Zealand and Pakistan from Competition
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a regional qualifying format for the men's cricket event at the 2028 Olympics, mirroring the one used for T20 World Cups. This format aims to ensure a truly global representation, with broad regional representation rather than multiple teams from dominant cricket zones.
New Zealand, currently ranked above South Africa in the ICC men's T20I rankings, may miss out on qualification due to their lower regional ranking. Similarly, Pakistan faces the prospect of missing out on automatic qualification, as they are not the highest-ranked team in Asia.
The qualification process involves six teams in total: the top-ranked men's teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa, plus the host nation USA representing the Americas. India, Australia, and South Africa are also set to qualify automatically, given their top-ranked statuses in their respective regions.
However, this regional format could exclude traditionally strong teams like Pakistan and New Zealand if they are ranked below India and Australia respectively. The last, sixth spot for the Olympics will be decided through further qualifying rounds, but details about that process remain unclear.
The cricket event at the 2028 Olympics will take place at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, about 50km away from downtown Los Angeles. Six men's and women's teams will compete, with each team consisting of 15 players. The event will run from July 12 to July 29, with medal matches for the women's event on July 20 and for the men's event on July 29.
This will be the second time cricket has been included in the Olympics, with the last time being in 1900. Great Britain won gold in the only cricket match held at the Olympics, beating France. England (who will likely compete as Team GB) is set to qualify automatically for the men's cricket event at the 2028 Olympics, given their top-ranked status in Europe.
The qualification for the women's cricket event at the 2028 Olympics will be decided by the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup is set to be held in England. The event will feature double-headers on matchdays, with one match in the morning and another in the evening.
Cricket's return to the Olympics after a 128-year absence promises an exciting spectacle, bringing together the best teams from around the world to compete in a truly global event.
[1] ICC Announcement [2] ICC Discussion at Annual Conference [3] Details on Qualifying Rounds
[1] The announced regional qualifying format for the men's cricket event at the 2028 Olympics, as outlined by the International Cricket Council (ICC), aims to ensure a diverse representation of sports and cricket around the world.
[2] During the ICC's annual conference discussions, concerns were raised about the possibility of traditionally strong teams like New Zealand and Pakistan missing out on qualification due to their regional rankings.
