ICC Announces How Teams Will Qualify for Cricket at the 2028 Olympics
Cricket will be back at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after more than 100 years. The sport was last seen at the 1900 Paris Games. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the qualification process for six men’s and six women’s teams.
At the recent ICC Board meeting in Dubai, it was confirmed that every region will get a chance to send one team to the 2028 Olympics. The last and sixth team will qualify through a global tournament. Earlier, the ICC planned to include only the top six teams from the T20I rankings, but that plan has been changed. The new system aims to give teams from all around the world a fair chance to take part in cricket’s return to the Olympic Games.
ICC Finalizes Qualification Plan for Cricket at LA 2028 Olympics
A senior official who attended the ICC meeting in Dubai told TOI that after several discussions, it was agreed that each region’s top-ranked team will qualify for the Olympics, while the sixth spot will be decided through a global qualifier. He added that the ICC will release full details soon, but the main plan has already been finalised.
"There have been discussions around the participation of teams, and it has been decided that the six teams will come through the top-ranked team from each region or continent, while the sixth will qualify through a global tournament. The ICC will share full details soon, but the main plan has already been decided," a senior official said.
The ICC has confirmed that each region will send one team to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the final spot decided through a global qualifier. Based on current rankings, India, Australia, England, and South Africa are likely to qualify, while the USA or West Indies could represent the Americas. The ICC will announce more details soon, and there is a chance India and Pakistan may not face each other in the event.
The ICC said in a statement that its board discussed ongoing work with the International Olympic Committee and the organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Cricket will continue to grow on the global stage, with both men’s and women’s T20 events featuring six teams each and a total of 28 matches at LA28.
