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India vs Pakistan clash at LA 2028 Olympics unlikely as only 1 Asian team to qualify: Report
Cricket is all set to return to the Olympics after 128 years, with men's and women's T20 events scheduled for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. However, fans hoping for an India vs Pakistan clash might be disappointed. According to Forbes, only one Asian team will directly qualify for the men's event, making it very unlikely that both arch-rivals will feature together.
The men's and women's competitions will reportedly have just six teams each. The host nation, the USA, is likely to get an automatic slot, which leaves just five remaining spots.
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The report suggests that the ICC is leaning towards a regional qualification model. That means only the top-ranked T20I team from each region - Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa - will automatically qualify, while the final spot will be decided through a qualifying tournament.
This could mean only one Asian team - likely India, based on their superior ranking - would make it directly, leaving Pakistan to fight for the remaining Olympic place in qualifiers. The ICC is currently debating how qualification should work, with the topic set to be discussed at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore.
Also Read: PCB stares at loss of crores if Asia Cup is cancelled: 'Revenues from ICC and Asia Cup are very important'
Qualification process stirs debate
Some associate members want qualifying tournaments instead of just rankings, saying it would give them a fair chance. Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who is an ICC board director and also part of the Olympic working group, has urged that the qualifying tournament should be for everyone and not just full members.
'We should really make the most of cricket being in the Olympics and have qualifying tournaments instead of rankings, which don't make sense in terms of trying to develop the sport,' Mukuhlani told Forbes.
'The qualifying tournaments should be for everyone and not just Full Members (cricket's 12 nations who receive the most power and funds). It's fairer and if you look at other major sports, like football and basketball, you see some amazing things happen where underdog nations qualify," he added.
Also Read: India camp rocked by injury crisis: How team combination could change after Nitish Reddy, Arshdeep Singh blow
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Meanwhile, others have argued that using rankings would be cheaper and easier because cricket's schedule is already packed. However, they also want inclusivity to be a factor and ensure that the right decision is taken so cricket is made part of the Olympics for good and not just for one edition.
'Discussions will be focused on what is the best option and there is the cost factor to consider, but inclusivity has to be a factor too and it would be great to showcase a curtain raiser before the Olympics,' Sumod Damodar, one of the three Associate member representatives on the Chief Executives' Committee, was quoted as saying.
'We need to make sure the right decision is made for cricket because the sport wants to be part of Brisbane 2032 and beyond. We don't want to be in situations where every four years we are begging for inclusion.'
The LA28 Olympic cricket matches will be held at a temporary stadium in Pomona, about 50 km from Los Angeles, from July 12 to 29, 2028. Medal matches will be played on July 20 and 29. The cricket matches at Olympics will begin two days before the start of the main event.
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