India, Nov. 8 -- Cricket's long wait for an Olympic comeback is finally ending in Los Angeles in 2028. But while fans are already dreaming of a blockbuster event, probably with an India vs Pakistan clash under the Olympic ring, the qualification path is far more tangled than the fantasy.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that 12 teams will feature across the men's and women's T20 events at LA28, with six sides in each competition and 28 matches in total. This structure was formalised at a recent ICC Board meeting in Dubai, alongside broader discussions with the International Olympic Committee on how cricket fits into the multi-sport ecosystem.

The original idea on the table was simple: just pick up the top six teams ...