New Zealand, Pakistan likely to miss the LA 2028 Olympics as ICC set to approve regional qualifying format - Reports

Six men’s and six women’s teams will participate in cricket at the LA 2028 Olympics.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is keen to approve a continental qualification system for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, according to a reports in ESPNCricinfo. According to the process, one team from each continent will qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics. The proposal was discussed during the ICC’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Cricket will return to the Olympics after more than a century. It was last played during the Paris Olympics in 1900. Six men’s teams and six women’s teams are going to participate in the sporting event in 2028. Earlier, ICC planned to pick six teams depending on the rankings on a pre-determined cut-off date.

However, many full member countries felt that it would not be a suitable idea to represent countries from around the world. Hence, one country from each continent will be shortlisted based on its rankings on a pre-determined cut-off date, according to the continental qualification system.

Notably, many major cricket nations will not be able to qualify for the LA Olympics if the continental qualification system comes into effect. For instance, teams like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are among the top cricket-playing nations. However, only one team among them will be able to qualify from Asia for the sporting event

Also, New Zealand might miss out on a place in the tournament for the same reason. Moreover, there are also talks that the USA might get an automatic qualification being the hosts. However, ICC is also keen for a global qualifier for the sixth team.

IOC prefer the idea of continental qualification process

While speaking to BBC show Test Match Special, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Richard Thompson said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prefers the idea of a continental qualification process.

“The preference from the IOC is to work to the ‘five ring’ principle, which is teams from each of the continents represent their continent,” he was quoted as ESPN Cricinfo as saying.

“At this stage, we are there by the invitation of the IOC and on that basis, you abide by their rules, and that is to play the geography of your game as opposed to necessarily the top six playing nations,” he added.

The ECB is in talks to participate in the LA 2028 Olympics as Great Britain Cricket. Hence, England, Ireland, and Scotland might participate as one entity. The cricket events during the LA 2028 Olympics will be played from July 14 and 29 in 2028.

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