The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided not to select teams for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 based on regional Qualification. This means no IND-PAK clash in Men’s Cricket at the Olympics 2028.
The decision was taken during the ICC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Singapore from July 17 to 20. Cricket will return to the Olympics after 128 years since its inception in 1900.
According to reports, the ICC has decided to determine team qualification on a regional basis. The top-ranked teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa will automatically qualify for the Los Angeles 2028.
Based on this, India, Australia, Great Britain and South Africa will occupy four out of six places.
The host nation, the USA will also qualify. However, the ICC recently requested the entire US cricket board to resign under the Olympic certification framework.
If this is not complied with, this spot will be given to a caribbean country. One final spot remains, for which the ICC might organise a tournament for the fifth and final place.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) are unhappy with ICC’s decision.
Despite having a better ranking than South Africa, New Zealand will not qualify. Meanwhile, other Asia teams like, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will also miss out.
This means there will be no IND-PAK Cricket match at the Olympics. The aim of reintroducing cricket has been attracted by many fans. To accomodate Indian viewers, men’s cricket matches will be scheduled in the morning according to the Indian Standard time (IST).
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) would like the biggest game of all, India vs Pakistan, but the ICC has decided otherwise. And ICC is unlikely to reverse its decision amid criticism from national boards.
