Australia Could Miss LA Olympics Following Disastrous T20 World Cup Campaign

Australia wraps up its 2026 T20 World Cup group-stage campaign against Oman at Pallekele International Stadium, marking a crucial final fixture.

Australia Could Miss LA Olympics Following Disastrous T20 World Cup Campaign

Australia are at risk at not attaining a qualification spot at the 2028 LA Olympics. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

In Short
  • Australia's men's cricket team faces potential exclusion from the 2028 LA Olympics after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
  • The team was eliminated in the group stage, finishing behind Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
  • Cricket Australia will conduct a review of the team's performance and consider significant changes moving forward.

One of the biggest cricketing powerhouses, the Australian men’s team, could, however, find themselves absent from the 2028 LA Olympics. Their shock exit from the T20 World Cup’s group stage indicates that Australia is likely to lose a chance at a direct qualification spot.

After 128 years, cricket is officially returning to the Olympics at the 2028 event in Los Angeles. Six teams are set to participate in the men’s and women’s competitions, to be played in the T20 format. While the International Olympic Committee has yet to finalize an official qualification process, the top-ranked teams from each of the five ICC regions are expected to qualify, alongside hosts USA. 

While teams like India (Asia), South Africa (Africa), and England (Europe) are expected to comfortably secure a spot among the final six Olympic teams, Australia might have to struggle. The Kangaroos’ troubles have deepened as a result of their early 2026 T20 World Cup exit, having finished behind Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Group C. After winning their first group-stage encounter against Ireland by 67 runs, the Aussies then slumped to a humiliating 23-run loss to Zimbabwe.

Marred by an untimely injury crisis, Australia’s hopes of a comeback ended after they suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka. The 2021 T20 WC winners entered the tournament as the third-ranked team on the ICC standings, but an early elimination puts their chances of earning a direct LA Olympics qualification spot in danger. Continental rivals, New Zealand, who have already advanced to the Super Eights, are in a position to overtake the Australians.

With cricket at the 2028 Olympics only set to feature one team from Oceania, New Zealand, ranked no.4 in the world, could secure the automatic qualification spot. The Blackcaps could overtake Australia on the ICC T20I Team Rankings, should they qualify for the semi-finals or the final. Australia, on the other hand, may be required to compete in a separate qualifying tournament with lower-ranked teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies, for the sixth Olympic spot. 

The failure to qualify for the 2028 LA Olympics would be a setback for Cricket Australia, which advocated for the sport’s return to the event. Veterans like Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, who have also expressed their desire to feature in the Olympics, might have to wait until the 2032 Brisbane edition. 

Cricket Australia to conduct a forensic review into the team’s 2026 T20 World Cup debacle

The Australian T20I team has faced scrutiny after failing to make it through to the Super Eight stages of the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup. Cricket Australia has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the team’s lackluster outing, which contributed to their early elimination. 

Australia review T20 World Cup exit
Cricket Australia will review the national team’s poor performance at the 2026 T20 World Cup. (via NDTV Sports)

Despite having won the T20 World Cup title a few years back in 2021, Australia struggled to advance to the second stage of the competition, marking their worst performance since 2009. Losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe sealed the team’s fate and ended any outside chance for Australia to get through. Injuries and conditions have been labelled as the primary reason behind the team’s exit.

Not only did the Australian bowling attack suffer due to the absence of veterans Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, but the batters failed to fire on spin-friendly surfaces. Selector Tony Dodemaide disclosed that a ‘forensic’ review would be conducted after the players return home from the T20 WC. He hinted at significant changes, while stressing Australia’s ambition to win every single World Cup in the future. 

It’s really disappointing the way the tournament has rolled out. But we will need some time, and take some time, once we finish our last commitment, then we’ll get back and analyse it fully.

Since their 2023 ODI World Cup triumph, Australia has not achieved comparable success. Their major tournament results include elimination from the Super Eights of the 2024 T20 World Cup, a semi-final loss in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and a defeat in the WTC final in July 2025.

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