• Home
  • Cricket News
  • India Secure Direct Entry Pakistan Left Out Controversy Erupts For 2028 La Olympics

India Secure Direct Entry, Pakistan Left Out? Controversy Erupts For 2028 LA Olympics

Akshita Patel

India-Pakistan face-off unlikely in LA Olympics [Source: @Getty, @LA28/X.com]India-Pakistan face-off unlikely in LA Olympics [Source: @Getty, @LA28/X.com]

Cricket's much-awaited return to the Olympic Games after 128 years has already stirred up a major storm, and at the centre of it is the age-old rivalry between India and Pakistan. A new qualification rule will reportedly allow India a direct entry, while Pakistan will likely be disqualified for the entire tournament. 

India Likely To Get Direct Olympic Qualification As Asia’s Top Team

According to a report from The Guardian, India is guaranteed a spot at the LA 2028 men’s T20 event thanks to the ICC’s decision to follow a regional qualifying format favoured by the International Olympic Committee. 

Under this format, the highest-ranked team from each region of the world, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa, will qualify outright, along with hosts USA and one last place to be determined.

That means India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), England (Europe), and South Africa (Africa) are all expected to secure direct entry. But here’s where the sparks fly, Pakistan and New Zealand, despite being higher up in the T20I rankings than the USA, could miss out entirely. 

And the reason behind that is that the USA is guaranteed a host nation spot despite being ranked as low as 17th in the ICC T20 rankings.

Pakistan In Disbelief, Lodge Protest

Pakistan, who are presently behind India in the Asian rankings, have vocally protested against this move. They are said to believe that the Olympic dream must be on a completely merit-based footing and not politics or area balance. 

With cricket finally making its comeback to the Games, the first since 1900, to miss out would be an enormous setback to their aspirations and international visibility.

India’s inclusion was almost inevitable given its dominance and massive fan base, but Pakistan’s exclusion may fan the flames of an already fiery rivalry.  The final qualification spot and format are still under discussion, but unless the ICC changes its stance, India could make Olympic history, while Pakistan watches from the sidelines.