PCB To Fight For A Spot In Los Angeles Olympics: Report

Aakash Saini

Pakistan team and PCB chairman [Source: @saad556/x, AFP]Pakistan team and PCB chairman [Source: @saad556/x, AFP]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly preparing to lobby for a spot in the historic cricketing event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It is worth noting that cricket will be making a return to the Olympics after a gap of over a century through the upcoming games. Earlier this year, the Olympics committee unveiled a schedule for both, the men’s and women’s T20 events.

However, owing to a regional qualification format, Pakistan is reportedly in danger of losing out a spot under the current framework. As it turned out, the PCB is not willing to let go of the opportunity and is aiming to take an initiative with the ICC and the LA committee.

PCB Fights For A Spot As Pakistan Face Risk Of Exclusion

The organizers of the cricketing event at the 2028 LA Olympics are expected to follow a regional qualification format. As many as six teams are participating under each, the men’s and women’s categories. For the men’s T20I event, India and Australia are almost certain to qualify for the event based on their regional rankings from Asia and Oceania respectively.

Other likely contenders for the qualification are England (Great Britain) from Europe, South Africa from Africa and the United States of America as a host nation. As per reports, the sixth slot will likely be granted to either a Caribbean nation or another Asian team.

Under the current framework, teams like New Zealand or any two sides among Asian giants like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh will fall under the danger of missing out.

Not willing to up the opportunity, a PCB source recently stated that the board is planning to send a letter to the ICC and the LA Games Committee to announce a qualification cut-off date. While speaking with telecomasia in a meeting, the source also added that the PCB is in talks with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to push for a suitable cut-off date.