Cricket at 2028 Olympics may see India qualify comfortably.
Cricket at 2028 Olympics is gaining momentum as the International Cricket Council (ICC) finalises its qualification criteria. India appears well-positioned to secure a spot in the historic tournament, while traditional rivals Pakistan are in danger of missing out. New Zealand, another cricketing powerhouse, might also be left out due to current rankings and qualification hurdles.
Cricket is returning to the Olympics after a 128-year gap, bringing global excitement to the sport. The ICC’s qualification model is designed to include top-performing nations while also promoting geographic diversity. However, with limited slots available, even big teams could face tough competition.
The return of cricket at 2028 Olympics marks a major milestone for the sport, offering global exposure and a chance to expand into non-traditional markets.
After more than a century, cricket is about to make a historic return to the Olympics, but there is bad news for fans of Pakistan. The men’s cricket squad from Pakistan is reportedly not expected to make it to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has chosen to use a regional qualifying format, which may cause major countries like New Zealand and Pakistan to be left out.
With representation from every region, the structure seeks to guarantee that the event is genuinely worldwide. The top-ranked men’s teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa will automatically qualify along with the host nation, the United States. According to their ICC rankings, Australia and India are therefore virtually certain to secure berths from Asia and Oceania.
An explanation of the regional qualification format
Based on the ICC rankings, Australia and India will receive berths from Oceania and Asia, respectively, according to The Guardian. In order to guarantee that every region of the world is represented at the Games and make it a truly global event, the International Olympic Committee supports regional qualifying.
The West Indies’ chances of attending the event appear to be limited, considering the USA qualified as the hosts. The newspaper went on to say, “That would have repercussions for West Indian islands hoping to compete.”
There will be six teams competing in the T20 format.
Six men’s and six women’s teams will compete in the cricket tournament. Five of the six qualifying berths have been announced thus far, but the procedure for selecting the sixth team is still in the works.
The Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, which is roughly 50 kilometers from Los Angeles, will host the cricket matches. Medal matches are planned for July 20 and 29, with the competition starting on July 12, 2028. According to the official schedule, there will be doubleheaders on most days and no matches on July 14 and 21.
The comeback of cricket after 128 years
The last time cricket was played at the Olympics was in Paris in 1900, where Great Britain won the gold medal after defeating France in a two-day contest. Each side is permitted to have a squad of 15 players in the 2028 edition, which will follow the T20 format. There will be 180 players competing in both the men’s and women’s events. while Pakistan and New Zealand face elimination as ICC finalises the qualification model.
Cricket’s comeback demonstrates the sport’s rising appeal, particularly in light of the 2024 T20 World Cup’s success in the USA and the West Indies. Additionally, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash have been authorized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as new sports for the LA Games.
