The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing a strong lobbying effort to secure a spot for its men’s team in cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, amid fears that the proposed qualification system could exclude Pakistan — and even fellow Test nation New Zealand.
Cricket will be played at the Olympics for only the second time in history, after its sole appearance at the Paris 1900 Games. The men’s and women’s T20 tournaments are scheduled for July 20–29, 2028, with just six teams in each competition.
Regional qualification format could leave Pakistan out
The LA28 Organising Committee and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are expected to adopt a regional qualification format, similar to other Olympic sports. Under the model being discussed, India would represent Asia, Australia Oceania, Great Britain Europe, South Africa Africa, and the USA would qualify automatically as host nation. The final slot could go to a Caribbean side or another high-ranking Asian team.
This system puts Pakistan — currently eighth in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings — at serious risk, given India’s dominance as Asia’s top-ranked team.
“Olympics are a prestigious event, and with cricket included, we cannot afford to miss out,” a PCB source told telecomasia.net, according to Republic World.
The source confirmed the PCB will send a letter to the ICC and LA28 organisers urging them to announce a qualification cut-off date, ideally one year before the Games. The PCB is also in discussions with New Zealand Cricket to push for either a cut-off date or a qualifying tournament for teams otherwise left out.
Rashid Latif urges PCB to lead the charge
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has publicly urged the PCB to take a leadership role in securing fair representation.
“Olympics are prestigious, and a medal is at stake. The criteria should either reflect the percentage of teams in each region or a fair ranking-based cut-off date should be announced,” Latif said.
He suggested that T20 World Cup standings in March next year could serve as the qualification benchmark.
PCB banking on performance and diplomacy
While Pakistan’s current ranking makes direct qualification under the proposed regional system unlikely, the PCB believes there is still time to improve. Strong performances in upcoming T20I series and coordinated lobbying efforts — alongside New Zealand — could boost their chances.
Beyond competition, the stakes are significant: qualifying would give Pakistan a shot at an Olympic medal and a historic opportunity to showcase cricket on the world’s biggest sporting stage, potentially boosting the sport’s profile at home and internationally.
