How Can India Qualify For LA 2028 Olympics Cricket? ICCs Continental Pathway Explained

India.com

01-08-2025

After over a century-long absence, cricket is set to make its much-anticipated return to the Olympic stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, the road to LA won't be straightforward—especially for powerhouse nations like India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is finalizing a continental qualification system that could redefine Olympic cricket participation.
According to recent ICC discussions, only one team per continent will qualify for the six-team men's and women's T20 competitions, aligning with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) vision of global representation—referred to as the 'five-ring principle'.
What Does the Continental Qualification Mean?
This system ensures that each continent sends its top T20 side, promoting geographical diversity over traditional cricketing dominance. As a result, some Full Member nations may miss out despite high rankings. For instance, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka are at serious risk of exclusion if they aren't the highest-ranked team from Asia or Oceania at the cut-off date.
Speaking on the development, ECB chairman Richard Thompson affirmed, 'The IOC prefers one representative from each continent. It's about global inclusion, not just fielding the top six teams.'
How Can India Qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics?
To book their ticket to Los Angeles, India must be the highest-ranked Asian team in the ICC T20 rankings on the designated cut-off date, which the ICC is expected to announce during its October meeting.
As of August 2025, India holds the top spot among Asian nations in both men's and women's T20 formats—putting them in pole position for Olympic qualification. But with stiff competition from Pakistan and Afghanistan, India cannot afford to slip in the rankings over the next year.
Key Path to LA 2028 for India: Maintain top position among Asian teams in the ICC T20 rankings at the qualification cut-off.
Likely Qualifiers for LA 2028 (Based on Current ICC Rankings)
If current rankings remain stable, the six-team Olympic cricket lineup is likely to look like this:
Asia: India Oceania: Australia Europe: Great Britain (a combined team from England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) Africa: South Africa Americas: USA (possible direct qualification as hosts)
Sixth team: To be determined via a global qualifier or a Caribbean regional tournament
The West Indies, being a collective cricketing entity rather than a single nation, may need to stage an internal qualifier among its island nations or participate in a global qualifying event.
No India vs Pakistan Clash at the Olympics?
Perhaps the most heartbreaking prospect for fans is the likely absence of an India vs Pakistan encounter—a fixture that commands global attention. With only one Asian team advancing, it's highly probable that only India or Pakistan (not both) will participate.
This scenario reflects a trade-off between sporting meritocracy and the Olympic ethos of inclusion, sparking debates within the cricketing fraternity. While purists may lament the exclusion of top-tier nations, the IOC's model prioritizes geographical equity.
What Lies Ahead: Cricket's Olympic Future Beyond LA 2028
Looking past LA 2028, the ICC is lobbying for broader participation in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and potentially the 2036 Games, with talks of expanding the format to 8 or even 12 teams.
If India wins the bid to host the 2036 Olympics, cricket could be at the forefront of the global sporting spectacle, with calls for a full-fledged tournament featuring all major cricket-playing nations.
'The hope is to expand to eight or ten teams in Brisbane, and by 2036—possibly even twelve,' said Richard Thompson, hinting at a transformative decade ahead for Olympic cricket.