No IND vs PAK in LA 2028 Olympics? Only 180 players allowed in Cricket

In a bad news for the cricket fans all over the world, the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan might not happen in the LA 2028 Olympics. While India is sure of the participation, the threat looms over Pakistan taking part in the tournament.

If there is no Pakistan in the tournament, it will be a big blow not only to the country but also to the organisers. The match between India and Pakistan is easily the most watched game in the sport and it will affect the viewership as well.

Why No Pakistan in LA 2028 Olympics?

According to the LA 2028 organisers, only six teams will be able to participate in men’s and women’s events each due to the restriction on the no. of athletes for the sport. 90 athletes have been allocated the quota for each gender, with each team having a 15-member squad.

As a result, only the top six teams will qualify each for both men’s and women’s events. USA will receive the direct qualification on virtue of being the hosts. This leaves only five spots for participation and thus, makes it difficult for Pakistan to secure the qualification.

Pakistan are currently ranked seventh in men’s T20Is while they are eighth in the women’s T20Is. As a result, there are alarm bells for the Men in Green to make it through to the tournament.

Pakistan men’s cricket team are going through one of their toughest moments in the sport’s history. The team has been facing failures constantly and failed to win a single game in their home Champions Trophy campaign.

The Men in Green also failed to perform well in the T20 World Cup last year when they lost to the USA in a huge upset. They were unable to qualify for the Super Eight stage which marked a new low in their cricketing history.

India Likely To Qualify In Both Events

While Pakistan is not in the top five in any of the events (men or women), India is comfortably placed to take part in the event in both the genders. The Men in Blue are ranked No. 1 in the T20I rankings and are also the current champions of the format having won the T20 World Cup last year.

On the other hand, India are ranked third in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, which makes them in a favorable position to qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics. This gives India a great opportunity to end up winning a medal in both men’s and women’s events.

Cricket was included in the LA 2028 Olympics by the International Olympic Council (IOC) around two years ago. Sports like baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash were also added alongside cricket in the upcoming Olympic games.

Historic Moment For Cricket

It will be a historic moment for cricket which will feature in an Olympics after a long gap of 128 years. The last time it featured in an Olympics was way back in 1900 when only Britain and France participated. Britain won the gold medal in defeating France in the only game played.

Cricket was included in the LA 2028 Olympics largely to attract a large no. of viewership from South Asia, particularly India. The IOC is looking to attract a huge viewership from the subcontinent where cricket is highly popular among the viewers.

USA also hosted the T20 World Cup 2024 last year alongside West Indies. The tournament was held across three venues across the USA with the marquee clash between India and Pakistan held in New York.

India is the powerhouse for cricket and is seen as the reason why the game has grown so much over years. The country has produced some world-class cricket players over the years and continues to do so.