‘No Pakistan cricket team in 2028 Olympics’

NEW DELHI: In a major blow, Pakistan men’s cricket team is not likely to qualify for the upcoming Olympics to be held in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

As per a report, the International Cricket Council, the apex ruling body of the sport, has decided to go with the regional qualifying format, which will see teams like Pakistan and New Zealand missing out on the event as cricket makes it return to Olympics after a long gap of 128 years.

According to the report, number 1 ranked men’s team in Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa will earn an automatic qualification for the tournament along with hosts USA, who would represent the Americas. “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,” said The Guardian in a report.

With US set to qualify on the basis of being the hosts, West Indies’ chances are also dim. “That would have implications for West Indian islands hoping to compete,” the report further stated. A total of six teams will be selected for the event. While qualification for five spots has been finalised, the process for the sixth team is yet to be determined, said the report.

Cricket’s much-hyped return to the Olympics at LA Games will take shape at the Fairgrounds Stadium in the city of Pomena -- about 50km from Los Angeles -- from July 12 with the medal matches scheduled on July 20 to 29, 2028.

A total of six teams each in men’s and women’s sections and 180 players will compete in the T20 format in the quadrennial showpiece, which hosted cricket for the first and only time in 1900. Only two teams, Great Britain and France, competed in a two-day match with the former winning the gold medal. With a total of 90 athlete quotas allocated in the men’s and women’s sections, the 12 competing teams can name 15-member squads.