Steve Smith, Currently 36, Wants to Play at the 2028 LA Olympics

In just four 2025-26 Big Bash League appearances sofar, Steve Smith has scored with 210 runs, at a stellar 70 average and a strike-rate of 172.13.

Steve Smith, Currently 36, Wants to Play at the 2028 LA Olympics

Steve Smith wants to play for the Australian T20I team at the 2026 LA Olympics. (via India Today)

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Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith has accepted his fate of not being picked for the 2026 T20 World Cup, despite being in a great run of form in the shortest format. Nonetheless, Smith remains hopeful about securing a position in the T20I team for the 2026 LA Olympics.

Although once a prominent player across all formats, Steve Smith retired from ODIs following Australia’s elimination in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final. He only remains active in Tests and T20Is. His decision to quit playing in the 50-over format was primarily to focus on franchise cricket, which has seen him feature in T20 leagues like the Big Bash League and The Hundred, since February 2025.

The 36-year-old was a regular in the Australian T20I team until he was overlooked for the T20 World Cup in 2022. Smith has not featured in a game since early 2024, and his T20I statistics are way too modest, with 1,094 runs scored in 67 matches at an average of 24.86 and a strike-rate of only 125.46.

Although highly respected in Test cricket, Steve Smith appears to have fallen out of contention, as confirmed by his omission from Australia’s 15-member provisional squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Steve Smith has, however, experienced a surge in form during the ongoing 2025-26 BBL season, having hit a 41-ball century for Sydney Sixers. In fact, Smith has hit four centuries in his last 15 BBL innings, intensifying calls for his inclusion in Australia’s T20 WC squad. Despite this, Smith appears to have accepted his likely exclusion from the World Cup, given that Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh are the team’s designated openers. He said, according to ESPN Cricinfo:

I always want to play for Australia in big tournaments. But I think that ship’s sailed [T20 World Cup]. I reckon they’ve got two opening batters that are doing well.

In a recent interaction, the ex-Australian captain stated he is relaxed and clear-minded, with his primary objective being to secure a spot in the 2026 Los Angeles Olympics squad, where cricket will feature in the T20 format for the first time in 100 years. He also mentioned that he is focused on enhancing his power-hitting skills, evident from a recent BBL clash against Sydney Thunder where he hit 32 runs in an over.

I’m relaxed doing what I can here and having some fun. My main goal, as I’ve said before, is to get in the team when the Olympics is rolling around. I’d be keen to do that. That’d be pretty cool. Keep doing what I’m doing and you never know.

Despite Smith’s absence, Australia appears to be one of the top contenders to win the T20 World Cup. In addition to Marsh and Head, the squad includes experienced players such as Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and Adam Zampa.

Steve Smith misses out as Australia name 17-member squad for Pakistan tour

While former players and critics have called for Steve Smith’s return to the Australian T20I squad, the 36-year-old remains out. Not only was he overlooked for the T20 World Cup, but Smith also recently missed out on a spot in the 17-member squad for a tour to Pakistan.

Steve Smith Pakistan tour
Steve Smith failed to make it to Australia’s T20I squad for the Pakistan tour. (via Crictracker)

Australia unveiled its squad for the three T20Is against Pakistan, set to begin on January 29. It marks their first tour to the country in four years, having last played an all-format series there in 2021-22. Star pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, along with all-rounder Tim David, have not been selected for the Pakistan series as they are recovering from injuries to ensure they are fit for the T20 World Cup.

Mitchell Marsh and his team have introduced a few young players to their squad for the tour, including 20-year-old pacer Mahli Beardman and all-rounder Jack Edwards. Beardman has been performing well in the ongoing 2025-26 BBL, taking 11 wickets in ten games at an average of 23.81. Edwards has been prolific with both bat and ball, scoring 115 runs at a strike-rate of 191.67, in addition to taking 17 wickets.

Glenn Maxwell is the only player who was not selected for the Pakistan tour but will play in the T20 World Cup. Four other players travelling to Pakistan are Matt Renshaw, Josh Philipe, Mitchell Owen, and Sean Abbott, but they will not be part of the WC squad.

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