Cricket is finally set to make its return to the Olympics after over 100 years, and now the International Cricket Council has confirmed how the teams will qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. After a board meeting in Dubai, the ICC revealed that six teams each will compete in men's and women's categories in T20 format matches at LA28. Having featured in the Olympics a long time back in Paris in 1900, cricket finally makes a historic comeback into the Olympic fold. The ICC had been in discussions for months to decide on the qualification process, and it has finally been approved. How Teams Will Qualify for LA28 Olympics There were talks of the top six teams in the ICC T20I rankings qualifying directly, but it seems that the ICC wanted to make things more global. According to the new system, the number one ranked team from each region or continent will be a sure qualifier, while the sixth and final spot will be taken through a global qualifier. A senior ICC official confirmed that the framework has been finalised and will soon be officially documented. “The six teams will come through the top-ranked team from each region or continent, while the sixth will come through a global qualifier,” the administrator, who attended the Dubai meeting, said. With existing rankings, India from Asia, Australia from Oceania, England from Europe, and South Africa from Africa would get automatic qualifications. The slot for the Americas could be either the USA or the West Indies, based on which way ICC would define regional representation. Since the USA is hosting the Games, they may get automatic qualification. Also Read | Cricket at LA Olympics 2028: Schedule, Format, and Teams A Possible India vs Pakistan Clash at LA28 The ICC's plan leaves ample room for exciting matches, including the possibility of India against Pakistan if both teams qualify. All final details of qualification and the format of the global qualifier are awaited. ICC also noted the increasing popularity of women's cricket and verified that the men's and women's events at LA28 would comprise six teams each, with a total of 28 matches across both categories. This move marks a major milestone in the globalization of cricket, extending its reach beyond traditional markets.