New Delhi: Much has been said about the intense India–Pakistan cricket rivalry — a fixture that continues to capture global attention despite the two teams not playing bilateral series anymore. Their meetings are now restricted to ICC and ACC tournaments, and the 2025 Asia Cup proved no different. India and Pakistan clashed thrice in that edition, with India emerging victorious on all three occasions.
Looking ahead, the next potential face-off could happen during the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, fans are equally curious about the prospect of an India–Pakistan contest at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games — though, as things stand, such a clash seems unlikely.
In its latest board meeting held in Dubai on Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that both the men’s and women’s cricket events at LA28 will feature six teams each. Unlike the ICC tournaments that rely on T20I rankings, Olympic qualification will be based on continental representation — ensuring participation from different regions. A sixth team in each category will make it through a global qualifier.
Expected Qualification Format (as per current structure)
Asia: India
Oceania: Australia
Europe: England
Africa: South Africa
The ICC, in its statement, said, “The Board reviewed the ICC’s ongoing engagement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as cricket deepens its footprint in the global multisport landscape. At LA28, both men’s and women’s T20 events will feature six teams each, comprising a total of 28 matches.”
While host nation USA is likely to receive an automatic berth, discussions are still on regarding whether West Indies will be included as a separate entity. The finer details of the global qualifier are expected to be made public soon.
Pakistan’s participation, however, remains uncertain. The team might only feature if the ICC decides to allow two Asian sides in the men’s event. Otherwise, India appears to be the clear regional representative, given their current dominance and top T20I ranking.
The cricket tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is set to begin on July 12, 2028, featuring 28 matches in total. Whether the world will witness another high-voltage India–Pakistan showdown on that stage remains to be seen.
