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Pakistan likely to miss out on cricket event at 2028 Olympics: reports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly finalised the qualification pathway for the cricket event at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and early signs indicate Pakistan may not feature in the men’s competition.

As per British media reports, the ICC, following discussions at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore, has opted for a regional qualification model.

The approach, which also has the backing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is aimed at ensuring continental representation and boosting cricket’s global footprint.

The men’s T20 competition at LA 2028 will feature six teams. One of those spots has already been allocated to the host nation, the United States.

Under the proposed format, the top-ranked teams from each continent will secure direct qualification, likely to include India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe).

That leaves Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, despite their stature in world cricket, out of automatic contention for the 2028 Olympics.

Reports suggest that both Pakistan and New Zealand have raised concerns over the format, but the decision is unlikely to be overturned, pending formal ratification by the ICC board.

Only one spot will remain after the five probable qualifiers are locked in.

The ICC is yet to decide how this final berth will be awarded, with speculation that it could be handed to a representative team from the Caribbean Islands, similar to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where Barbados represented the region.

Both men’s and women’s events at LA 2028 will be played in the T20 format. The tournaments are scheduled to run from July 12 to 29, with the women’s medal match set for July 20 and the men’s final slated for July 29.

Cricket’s inclusion in LA 2028 marks its return to the Olympic stage after 128 years. The sport last featured at the 1900 Paris Games, where Great Britain defeated France in a one-off match to clinch the gold.

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