T20 cricket at LA 2028 Olympics: India, Pakistan and the qualification race explained

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature T20 cricket for the first time in over a century, with a limited number of spots available for both men's and women's teams. Six nations will compete in the men's and women's T20 competitions, with at least one team from each of Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Africa. The host nation, USA, is set to secure one of the spots.

For the women's competition, Australia, Great Britain (England), India, and South Africa are automatically qualified based on their rankings at the end of the 2022 Women's T20 World Cup. However, the selection criteria for the men's team differs. The top-ranked teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania as of December 31, 2026, will qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics.

India, currently ranked second in the world, is almost certain to qualify automatically for the 2028 LA Olympics T20s. They have a significant point lead over their nearest continental rivals, Pakistan, who are currently ranked sixth. India has five T20s scheduled against New Zealand and three against Sri Lanka in the remaining 2026 calendar, but they will still finish in the top three regardless of the outcomes.

However, India may still compete in the Olympic qualifier if the West Indies gain the automatic qualification spot via rankings by the end of the year. In this case, a dedicated qualifier event will determine the Caribbean nation's participation.