Cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympics will be one of the 2028 Los Angeles Games’ marquee attractions. But whereas, cricket fans everywhere were anticipating a blockbuster India-Pakistan showdown on the biggest stage of them all, that hope may not come to fruition and it won’t be due to politics, but because of qualification dynamics.

As per latest updates, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is mulling a regional qualification model for the six-team men’s and women’s T20 events at LA 2028. This model, if adopted, might end up depriving Pakistan of an appearance altogether, even though it is one of the most historic cricketing nations and home to the game’s most legendary rivalry.

A Historic Return with a Controversial Twist

Cricket is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1900 and both the men’s and women’s T20 matches will be held. Of course, the world cannot wait, with fans and players alike looking forward to watching the sport return to the big stage as an Olympic sport.

Yet, rather than taking the world’s top-ranked teams, the ICC is weighing continental representation as the criterion. In this system, one squad each from the following areas would qualify automatically:

• Asia
• Europe
• Oceania
• Africa
• Americas (with the host country, the United States)

This arrangement leaves only one more place up for grabs, possibly to be fought for or granted by yet-to-be-determined criteria.

India In, Pakistan In Doubt

India, ranked No. 1 in T20 Internationals up to August 2025, would be the obvious choice to play for Asia. Pakistan, on the other hand, is down to eighth rank behind not only India but also other ascendant T20 teams such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Since just one team per continent would probably make it, this model might have Pakistan not making the Olympics at all a tremendous letdown for the fans who would love to experience the classic India vs Pakistan match-up in Los Angeles.

A Blow for Cricket Fans Everywhere

The possibility of the India-Pakistan rivalry being played out at the Olympics was a mouthwatering one. It’s a matchup that goes beyond sport, consistently attracting hundreds of millions of viewers whenever the two teams are together in ICC events or World Cups.

But under the planned format, the rivalry may be missing from LA 2028, not because of scheduling or diplomatic issues, but because of qualification logistics a bitter pill to swallow.

What Next?

The ICC has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the final qualification criteria and negotiations are still under way. Only time will tell if it will be global rankings, a wildcard format, or pre-Olympic qualification tournaments that will provide high-profile outfits such as Pakistan with a second chance.

For the moment, however, it seems that a historic Olympic comeback for cricket will have one glaring omission and the lack of one of the sport’s most ferocious rivalries might create a cavernous space on the sport’s largest stage.