The qualification process for the July 14–29, 2028, Los Angeles Olympics is beginning to take shape, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) set to approve a continental qualification system. This process will determine the six participating teams for the world’s biggest multisport spectacle. As the men’s and women’s cricket events will feature a smaller number of teams, the continental qualification system could mean ICC full members like Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka could miss out on qualification for the much-anticipated return of cricket to the Olympics. Cricket will make a comeback to the Olympics for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games. According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC discussed the Olympic qualification scenario at its recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore. The AGM proposed one team from each continent. However, the nuanced details of the qualification process are yet to be finalised. A majority of members have approved a regional qualification system, with a minority expressing dissent. This latest initiative by the ICC follows earlier considerations to shortlist six teams based on international rankings—an approach commonly used by other Olympic sports, alongside direct qualification based on performance and cut-off marks. However, the ICC has discarded the ranking-based selection method, as several full members believe it would not allow for wider representation of countries across the globe. This means the qualification process will become more intense, as the one-country-per-continent system is considered more aligned with the Olympic ethos of broad participation. Under this system, cricket’s most iconic rivalry - India versus Pakistan - may be absent from the Olympics. If qualification were to be decided based on ICC T20 rankings, for both men's and women's competitions, India would qualify from Asia, Australia from Oceania, England from Europe, with either the USA or one of the Caribbean islands qualifying from the Americas, and South Africa from Africa. The ICC, meanwhile, is still discussing the participation of the USA, which could potentially receive direct entry as hosts. However, there is a concern regarding the participation of the USA women's team as they are not ranked in the top 20 globally. On the other hand, the majority of the USA cricketers are not residents of the country as they are not naturalised citizens. The ICC is also concerned that the USA women’s team is not currently ranked among the top 20 teams globally. A final decision is likely to be made at the ICC’s next quarterly meeting in October. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), along with Cricket Scotland and Cricket Ireland, have formed Great Britain Cricket as an entity. This will allow players from England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to represent Great Britain at the Games.