India secures Asia’s lone automatic Olympic berth as ICC unveils qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Games
New Delhi: India’s women’s cricket team has secured qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, despite suffering an early exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that India earned Asia’s lone automatic Olympic berth after finishing as the highest-placed eligible Asian team in the tournament.
The ICC announced the qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Olympics after a gap of 128 years, with six teams each competing in the men’s and women’s T20 events. Alongside India, Australia, Great Britain (represented by England), and South Africa have secured direct qualification as the highest-performing eligible teams from Oceania, Europe and Africa, respectively.
The remaining two women’s berths will be decided based on specific criteria. Hosts USA will qualify if they enter the top 15 of the ICC Women’s T20I rankings between June 30 and December 31, 2026. If they fail to do so, the place will go to the highest-ranked non-qualified team as of March 1, 2027. The final spot will be determined through the inaugural ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described cricket’s Olympic return as a “landmark moment” for the sport, saying the qualification pathway provides member nations with “a clear and exciting route to the Olympic stage.”
The ICC also confirmed that the men’s qualification pathway will differ, with four direct continental berths to be decided through the ICC Men’s T20I rankings at the end of 2026. India must finish as Asia’s highest-ranked eligible men’s team to secure direct qualification.
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