No India vs Pakistan clash at LA Olympics 2028 as Men in Green set to miss out: Report

The Pakistan cricket team is reportedly set to miss out on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to opt for a regional qualifying format. Not only Pakistan, another major Test-playing nation, New Zealand, may also miss out on the next Olympics as cricket gets ready for a return to the mega event after a gap of 128 years.

The ICC has reportedly decided to provide direct qualification to the number 1-ranked men’s team in Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa, along with hosts USA, who would represent the Americas.

Pakistan set to miss out on LA 2028 

Such a qualification system would allow representation from all major continents in the cricket tournament at LA 2028, which is what the ICC feels.

“India and Australia to be awarded spots from Asia and Oceania respectively based on the ICC rankings. The International Olympic Committee favours regional qualifying to ensure all parts of the world are represented at the Games so it is a truly global event,” a report in The Guardian said.

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While the West Indies – a cricket team made of Caribbean islands – wouldn’t have qualified. The report adds that none of the Caribbean islands would also get a chance as the USA from the Americas will be picked in the tournament as hosts.

“That would have implications for West Indian islands hoping to compete,” the report added.

As per the qualifying format mentioned above, five teams are finalised for the men’s cricket tournament at the LA Olympics, but the process to pick the sixth and final team has not been finalised yet.

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The men’s and women’s cricket events at the 2028 Olympics will include six teams respectively. A total of 180 cricketers are set to make Olympic debut in the T20 format as cricket returns to the sports’ greatest event for the first time since 1990.

The matches will be played from 12 to 29 July 2028 , at the Fairgrounds Stadium in the city of Pomena, which is around 50 km, far from Los Angeles.

The only other time cricket was part of the Olympics was in the 1990 Paris Games. The cricket competition included just two teams – Great Britain and France, who played a two-day match. The gold medal was won by Great Britain.