Cricket is poised for a historic return to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and Team GB is set to benefit from a controversial regional qualification system that guarantees their place in the men’s T20 tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opted to follow the International Olympic Committee’s preferred regional qualifying format to ensure broader global representation at the Games.
With the men’s competition limited to just six teams, the ICC has proposed that the top-ranked T20 side from each continent Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa will qualify automatically, alongside the United States as the host nation. The sixth and final spot is yet to be determined. Based on current ICC T20 rankings, India (Asia), Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa), and Great Britain (Europe) would secure places under this structure.
This move has drawn criticism from countries like Pakistan and New Zealand, both of whom risk missing out despite being highly ranked globally. New Zealand, currently fourth in the ICC rankings, trail just behind England (representing Team GB), while Pakistan is also outside the automatic qualification slots. The situation is further complicated by concerns over the governance of USA Cricket, with the ICC recently calling for the board to resign. Should the USA fail to meet governance standards, a Caribbean nation could take their place.
Team GB’s qualification has added momentum to efforts by the England and Wales Cricket Board to establish a unified Olympic entity. Discussions with Cricket Scotland are well advanced to form GB Cricket, while a memorandum of understanding with Cricket Ireland is being developed to ensure players from Northern Ireland can be included.
This marks the sport’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900, when Great Britain claimed gold in a one-off match against France. The LA Games will feature matches in Pomona, California, around 30 miles from the host city. If successful, the ICC plans to expand the format for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and will push for further inclusion at the 2036 Games, with Ahmedabad among the potential host cities.
While final ratification of the qualification system is pending, the current proposal appears unlikely to be overturned. As preparations continue, GB Cricket is expected to be officially recognised in the coming months, pending approval by both the ICC and the British Olympic Association.
