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Pakistan prepare to fight for Olympic cricket spot at LA 2028, organisers to be contacted: Report
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi may soon write to ICC and LA 2028 organisers over qualification process. Image: PTI
Pakistan are in serious danger of missing out on cricket's historic return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028. As reported earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to opt for a regional qualifying format, as per which the top-ranked T20I team from a particular region will be given direct entry into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The men's cricket tournament at LA 2028 will have six teams, comprising the No. 1-ranked teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa, along with hosts USA, who would represent the Americas. Such a qualification format will help ICC to send teams from all major continents to the Olympics. However, ICC is yet to finalise how the sixth and final team will be picked for the next Summer Games.
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As per the above formula, India (Asia) and Australia (Oceania), along with Great Britain (Europe), South Africa (Africa) and the USA as hosts, are set to qualify for the Olympics based on their respective regional rankings. While Pakistan and New Zealand are in danger of missing out on the Olympics.
Pakistan to fight for Olympic cricket spot at LA 2028
Now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not happy with such an arrangement and is reportedly planning to kick off a 'lobbying effort,' as per a report published in the prominent Pakistan news media website Tribune.
As the cut-off date has not yet been announced, Pakistan want it to be one year before the LA Olympics in 2208, which could allow them a chance to improve their rankings and get ahead of India.
'Olympics are a prestigious event, and with cricket included, we cannot afford to miss out,' a PCB source told Telecom Asia Sport. 'A letter will be sent to both the ICC and the LA Games Committee urging them to announce a qualification cut-off date, ideally one year prior to the Games.'
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has also urged the PCB to demand a qualification cut-off date of at least March 2026. 'Olympics are prestigious, and a medal is at stake,' Latif was quoted as saying by the report. 'The criteria should either reflect the percentage of teams in each region or a fair ranking-based cut-off date should be announced.'
'PCB must engage with both the ICC and the LA committee, and suggest using the T20 World Cup standings in March next year as a qualification benchmark.'
Currently, India are the highest-ranked side in T20Is globally, while Pakistan are eighth. Major teams like Sri Lanka are seventh, Afghanistan are ninth and Bangladesh occupy the 10th spot.
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