Pakistan Qualify Directly for 2028 T20 World Cup

Following Pakistan’s successful advancement to the Super Eight phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that Pakistan will secure direct qualification for the forthcoming 2028 edition of the tournament. Under ICC rules, eight teams advancing from this year’s competition gain automatic entry into next year’s event.

With Australia and New Zealand set to co-host the 2028 T20 World Cup, which will feature a total of twenty teams, these hosts have already secured their spots through hosting rights. Pakistan, India, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and West Indies are also guaranteed participation as per the qualification criteria.

The ICC’s guidelines state that in case of three or more co-hosted tournaments, the next highest-ranked teams based on the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20I rankings—currently Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland—will secure automatic qualification. These nations join Pakistan at the forefront with their established spots.

Remaining berths will be determined through regional qualifying events, leaving eight slots yet to be filled by emerging cricket powers from around the world. This process is a testament to the ICC’s commitment to fostering international cricket competitions and ensuring a diverse representation of teams in future tournaments.

Pakistan’s qualification was further confirmed on Wednesday with their comprehensive 102-run victory over Namibia in the Super Eight phase, completing the final roster of eight teams for the upcoming World Cup.