Pakistan is unlikely to feature in men’s cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the International Cricket Council (ICC) finalized a regional qualification system at its annual meeting in Singapore.
According to The Guardian, the men’s T20 event will feature just six teams, with the host USA receiving an automatic spot. Under the new format, the highest-ranked side from each continent will qualify to ensure global representation.
This setup is expected to see India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe) secure berths, leaving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand out of direct qualification.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) backed the regional approach, emphasizing inclusivity and cricket’s global reach. However, the system leaves only one open slot, which the ICC will allocate later — potentially to a Caribbean team, depending on USA Cricket’s governance situation.
The men’s and women’s T20 tournaments will run from July 12 to 29, 2028, marking cricket’s Olympic return after 128 years.
