Pakistan's Qualification Strategy For LA Olympics Revealed: PCB In A Tough Spot

The Los Angeles Olympics 2028 (LA28) is set to be the grand comeback of cricket in the biggest sporting festival of the world. However, it won’t be without challenges. Based on the information available so far from the International Olympic Council (IOC) and International Cricket Council (ICC), only six teams will participate in the competition scheduled between July 20 and 29. 

Based on that, Pakistan are finding themselves in a tough spot for qualification, as the expected qualification model for both the men’s and women’s T20 competition is based on geography. Accordingly, India (highest highest-ranked team in Asia), Australia (Oceania), the United States of America (North America), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe) are already qualified based on rankings. 

That leaves just one spot for four top international teams: Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and a Caribbean nation (most probably Barbados). Considering the situation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up to lobby hard for a place in the Olympics, and will write to the ICC and LA games organising committee to set a fairer qualification process that would allow the best teams on form to participate in the prestigious event. 

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has also made his case about the same. 

“The Olympics are prestigious, and there’s a medal on the line,” Latif said. “The qualification criteria should reflect the percentage of teams in each region, or a fair ranking-based cut-off date must be set.”

The one thing that is in favour of Pakistan is that the qualification scenario and rules haven’t been set in stone yet, and that allows space for some diplomatic efforts, as an Olympic medal carries a lot of value for any nation. Pakistan would certainly not want to miss the opportunity to add to Arshad Nadeem’s medal from the Paris Olympics.