KATHMANDU: The qualification pathway for cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games has been officially unveiled, giving Nepal a potential route to secure a historic Olympic berth through a global qualifying tournament.
Cricket will return to the Olympics after a 128-year absence, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approving the qualification system for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
A total of six men’s and six women’s teams will compete in the T20 format, with each squad comprising 15 players.
In the men’s competition, four teams will qualify directly based on the ICC T20 International rankings. However, no more than one team from the same continent can claim a direct qualification spot. As a result, the highest-ranked eligible team from each of four different continents will earn automatic entry.
Host nation the United States will also receive an automatic place, provided it is ranked within the top 15 of the ICC T20 International rankings.
The remaining Olympic berth will be decided through a global qualifying tournament featuring eight teams selected based on the ICC rankings.
If the West Indies qualify among those eight teams, a Caribbean regional qualifier will instead be held to determine a single national team for the global qualifier, as the West Indies cannot compete at the Olympics as a unified team.
Should the United States qualify automatically as hosts, the final global qualifying event is expected to feature nine teams, with the winner claiming the last available ticket to the Olympics.
Nepal is currently ranked 15th in the ICC Men’s T20 International rankings. To be eligible for the global qualifying tournament, Nepal must climb into the top 12 of the rankings by December 31, 2026.
For the women’s competition, five teams—comprising four continental qualifiers and the host nation—will qualify automatically, while the final place will be determined through a separate qualification tournament.
A total of 28 cricket matches, including both men’s and women’s events, will be played at LA 2028. Matches will be staged on most days of the competition, except July 14 and 21, with double-headers scheduled. The first match will begin at 9:00 a.m. local time, followed by the second at 6:30 p.m.
Cricket last featured at the Olympics during the 1900 Paris Games, when Great Britain and France contested a single two-day match. The sport will now make its long-awaited Olympic return in the T20 format after 128 years.
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