ICC might face a number of challenges in deciding {qualifications} standards for LA28 Olympics cricket will not guarantee India vs Pakistan spectacle.
The Los Angeles Olympics are still three years away, but there is already a buzz among fans about the qualification criteria. LA28 has confirmed that cricket will return after 128 years, and it will be a six-team T20I tournament for both men and women. A maximum of 15 players will make the team. However, unlike other sports, cricket won’t have a straightforward qualification scenario.
The ICC top brass meets in Zimbabwe this weekend. However, the qualification scenario for LA28 is not on the official agenda. There is still time with two T20 World Cups in between. However, even though there are six spots on offer, it could end up becoming just five. As the USA are the hosts of the Olympics, they will occupy a spot each in both men’s and women’s. Hence, the fight will be for five remaining spots.
“There is a lot of time to decide on the qualification criteria. It’s not the top priority at the moment. But you are right, it will be difficult since cricket does not follow a straightforward qualification tournament like other sports. All the stakeholders will be part of the discussion when the time comes,” a senior BCCI official, who is also a member of the ICC committee, told InsideSport.
Possible criteria for LA28 Cricket qualification?
- ICC Rankings
- Standalone LA28 Qualification tournament
- Base ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the qualification tournament
- Invitation-only
The Great Britain problem
India, Australia, England and Pakistan are the four nations that dictate cricket as they bring in the bulk of revenue. But with just six teams in LA28, ICC will have to strategically decide on the teams, especially with USA taking one spot. USA are an associate nation. Although they beat Pakistan in the last T20 World Cup, the hosts are not the big guns of cricket.
ICC T20I rankings could be the formula for deciding teams. It would have been fair for all teams. However, England competes in the Olympics as part of Great Britain. In a cricket sense, some Scotland players should be part of the Great Britain team.
In football, England, Scotland and Wales all play as separate countries. They often miss out on the Olympic spot. In 2008, when Beijing hosted the Olympics, England were denied a spot as Great Britain does not compete in football. England’s spot went to a playoff between Italy and Portugal.
However, there is some good news about Great Britain cricket. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland are already in talks about forming a team for the LA28.
“With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away, it’s very early stages, but we’re talking to Team GB and Cricket Scotland about the next steps we need to take,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo last year.
Hence, even if England qualify based on ICC T20I rankings, the team could be Great Britain.
West Indies would face similar challenges. All the Caribbean islands compete in the Olympics as separate nations. However, they will have to make an exception for cricket. How ICC and IOC accommodate the West Indies for a single event would be interesting to see.
India vs Pakistan not guaranteed
While ICC keeps pitting India against Pakistan in every event, in the Olympics, it won’t be guaranteed. Despite India vs Pakistan dominating viewership, the fact is that Pakistan are not among the best T20I sides anymore.
If ICC T20I Rankings were the criteria today, Pakistan would have missed out. They are currently ranked 7th in the ICC T20I rankings. Based on the rankings, India, Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa would have made it to the Olympics in the men’s event.
Hence, either Pakistan will have to improve their showing in T20Is over the next three years or risk losing out on an Olympics spot.
The other way Pakistan can make it to the Olympics is if they reach the semifinals of T20 World Cup 2028, provided the ICC make it an Olympics-qualifying tournament.
“Like I said, nothing is decided or even discussed so far. There are a few challenges, for sure. But there is time to take a call on,” the official added.
However, as cricket will return as a testing event for Olympics, ICC should make it an invitation-only tournament to draw maximum eyeballs. ICC must also ensure an India vs Pakistan match to show the world what the rivalry is all about. For 2032 and 2036, cricket in Olympics could be expanded to other teams.
Editor’s Pick
High Tales
