For over a century, cricket fans have had one question in mind. Why isn’t cricket part of the Olympics? And every time an international multi-sport event came and went without the bat-ball game, fans around the world, especially in cricket-loving nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, and England, expressed their frustration.
But finally, in what feels like a historic correction, cricket is set to return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Yes, you read it right. After a massive gap of 128 years, cricket will feature in the form of T20 games, with six men’s and six women’s teams taking part.
Pakistan is on the brink of missing the Olympics 2028
While cricket is already a well-established and the second-most-watched sport in the world, after football, it is expected to attract millions of new eyes for the first time. And yet, as exciting as this moment is, one big question looms large. Will Pakistan make it to the Olympics?
As things stand today, the 2009 men’s T20 World Cup winning team is ranked 7th, whereas the Pakistan women’s team is 8th in the ICC rankings. Since only the top six teams from each category will qualify for the colossal event, Pakistan might miss out on LA 2028, given their current rankings.
Pakistan has always been a proud cricket nation in the earlier years. They won the T20 World Cup by beating Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the 2009 final. From the days of Imran Khan’s leadership to the brilliance of Babar Azam today, the Green Shirts have indeed produced magic on the field. However, in recent years, they haven’t quite been able to pull the trigger in clutch moments of the game, which led to their downfall.
Moreover, their inconsistency has crept in. They came under fire for their unstable team selections and lack of planning, and the results haven’t lived up to the expectations of fans. Now, that dip in performance could cost them a spot at one of the most prestigious stages in sport.
On the other hand, the likes of India, Australia, England, New Zealand, the West Indies, and South Africa lead the ICC T20I men’s rankings, while Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies dominate the women’s rankings. As things stand, these respective nations are likely to be strong contenders, although rankings may shift as the Olympics approach.
Fans have waited a lifetime to see cricket in the Olympics. They have voiced their disappointment for years. Now, when it is finally happening. The world will be watching in 2028.
When was cricket last played at the Olympics?
For the unversed, cricket was played only once in Olympic history at the 1900 Paris Olympics. That match was between Great Britain and France, and Great Britain won. Interestingly, it was just a single match, so it wasn’t even a tournament. After that, cricket disappeared from the Olympic program for more than 100 years
