How can Sri Lanka qualify for LA28 Cricket Olympics

Sri Lanka’s men’s and women’s cricket teams are both likely to have to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games through a new ICC Olympics Qualifier after the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Games. The ICC announced on Monday that six teams will compete in both the men’s and women’s T20 tournaments at LA28. Five teams in each event will qualify automatically, while the sixth and final spot will be decided through a new eight-team ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027. In the men’s competition, the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania as of 31 December 2026 will qualify automatically. The United States can also qualify as hosts if they finish in the ICC Men’s T20I top 15 by the end of 2026. Sri Lanka are currently sixth in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings. However, with India ranked above them, Sri Lanka are unlikely to secure Asia’s automatic qualification place unless they overtake India before the qualification cut-off. In the women’s competition, Australia, Great Britain (through England), India and South Africa have already secured automatic qualification through their performances at the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka are currently ranked sixth in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings but missed out on the automatic Asian berth, which went to India. As a result, both Sri Lanka’s men’s and women’s teams are expected to compete in the ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027, where the winner will claim the final Olympic place in each event. Cricket will return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1900, with the men’s and women’s T20 competitions to be played at a purpose-built venue in Pomona, Los Angeles. (Newswire)