Cricket at LA 2028 Olympics: Only Six Teams Allowed, Pakistan Might Miss Out
Cricket is coming to the LA 2028 Olympics, and it’s exciting news for fans. The event will happen in Los Angeles, but only six countries can take part in the men’s and women’s tournaments. This means the competition will be tough, and some big teams, like Pakistan, might not even get a chance to play.
The organizers have decided that the cricket matches at the LA 2028 Olympics will follow the T20 format. This is a short, fast version of cricket that people love to watch. Each team will have 15 players, and there will be 90 spots for men and 90 for women. So, only the top six teams in each category will make it to the Olympics. Since the United States is hosting the Games, they might get an automatic spot in the men’s event. If that happens, only five spots will be left for other countries to fight for.
Right now, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has 12 full member countries and 94 associate members. Out of all these, India’s men’s team is leading the way. They are number one in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, with Suryakumar Yadav as their captain. India also won the T20 World Cup recently, so they are almost certain to qualify. On the women’s side, India’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is doing well too. They sit in third place, behind Australia and England. This strong ranking makes India a sure bet for the women’s event as well.
6 cricket teams to participate in Los Angeles Olympics 2028
(Mufaddal Vohra ) pic.twitter.com/WWeCrgTbeL— Hashim Tufail (@PakistaniH47165) April 10, 2025
However, Pakistan’s teams face a tougher road. The men’s team is ranked seventh, and the women’s team is eighth. With only six spots available, these rankings might not be good enough to get them into the LA 2028 Olympics. Other teams, like Australia, England, and New Zealand, could take those spots instead. It’s a big disappointment for Pakistan fans who would love to see their players compete for Olympic gold.
Cricket is one of five new sports added to the LA 2028 Olympics. The other four are baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved cricket’s inclusion two years ago. They hope it will bring more viewers, especially from South Asia, where cricket is hugely popular. India, in particular, has a massive fan base, and the IOC wants to make sure those fans tune in. To do this, they might even move the cricket matches from Los Angeles to New York.
Why New York? Well, it’s all about timing. India is 9.5 hours ahead of New York and 12.5 hours ahead of Los Angeles. If the matches happen in New York, they can start at times that suit Indian viewers. For example, a game in the morning in New York would air in the evening in India, perfect for fans there. Casey Wasserman, the chairman of LA 2028, said they are working hard to make this happen. New York also hosted some T20 World Cup matches in 2024 at a temporary stadium in Nassau County. Although the weather caused problems there, it showed New York could handle big cricket events.
So, where will the games actually take place? The venues aren’t set yet, but there are some ideas. One option is Marine Park in Brooklyn, home to the MI New York team. Another possibility is building a new 10,000-seat stadium. However, it’s not clear if that stadium will be ready by 2028. Either way, the organizers want a place that can welcome lots of fans and make the event exciting.
