New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has approved the qualification system for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This decision officially set the pathway for teams to secure their place in the sport’s long-awaited return to the Olympics.

The approved system confirms that both men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournaments will feature six teams each, with up to 15 players per squad. In total, 90 athlete quota places will be available per gender, and 28 matches are scheduled across both competitions.

Following the confirmation of the qualification pathway for cricket, ICC Chairman, Mr Jay Shah said: “Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful opportunity to showcase the very best of cricket to the world. The confirmation of this qualification pathway is an important step towards Los Angeles 2028 and gives Members across the world a clear and exciting route to the Olympic stage."

Cricket will make its Olympic comeback at LA28 after a gap of 128 years, having last featured at the Paris 1900 Games.

The IOC said the overall LA28 qualification framework is designed to provide athletes multiple opportunities to qualify, improve continental representation, reduce travel burdens, and give National Olympic Committees more time for preparation.

Alongside cricket, the IOC also approved revisions to the qualification pathway for surfing. With these approvals, qualification systems for 49 sports and disciplines have now been confirmed since December 2025. Boxing and water polo were the most recent additions cleared in May 2026. Athletics and football remain the only two sports awaiting final approval of their qualification pathways, which are expected soon.

Each International Federation is responsible for setting participation rules and qualification criteria for its sport, in line with the Olympic Charter. These qualification systems must then be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board for approval.

India must top Asia for LA28; women’s qualification via T20 World Cup

The Indian men's team requires to finish as Asia's highest-ranked side in the ICC Men's T20 rankings by the end of 2026 to secure automatic qualification, as per the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) qualification pathway.

The cut-off date for the men's rankings has been set as December 31, 2026. Four quota places will be awarded to the highest-ranked eligible National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from different continents.

"These will be allocated to the highest-ranked eligible NOCs (National Olympic Committees) continentally (i.e. the top ranked NOCs from different continents), taken from the ICC Men's T20 Team Rankings, resulting in four teams in total," the ICC stated.

For the women's competition, four quota places will be awarded based on the final standings of the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England, with one team qualifying from each continent.

"For women, four quota places will be allocated to the highest-placed eligible NOCs taken continentally at the T20 World Cup 'resulting in four teams in total (i.e. the top standing NOC from different continents at the conclusion of the competition)."

The ICC further said, "Each eligible team will obtain one quota place for its NOC."

Based on the current World Cup standings, Australia (Oceania), South Africa (Africa) and England (Europe) appear to have secured early qualification after reaching the semi-finals. India's qualification prospects will be determined after the tournament concludes.

Although the West Indies have also reached the semi-finals, they are not eligible to compete as a single team at the Olympics because they are not recognised as an IOC National Olympic Committee. The West Indies represent several Caribbean nations that compete together in ICC events but not as a single Olympic entity.

Hosts USA are guaranteed one quota place each in the men's and women's competitions, provided they have "satisfied the ICC criteria of appearing on a ranking of 15 or better in the Rankings during the qualification period."

In addition, the Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOGQT) will be held separately for both genders, with dates yet to be announced. The next eight highest-ranked eligible teams, which have not yet qualified based on rankings, will fight it out for one slot each in the men's and women's competition.

If the West Indies are among those eight teams, the ICC will organise a West Indies Nations Regional Tournament to determine which Caribbean National Olympic Committee will represent the region at the final Olympic qualifier.

With agency inputs