Australia's Olympic Dream in Jeopardy After T20 World Cup Debacle

• Australia's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 group stage puts their Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualification at risk.
• Poor performance, including losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, led to their first-round elimination since 2009.
• Only 6 men's T20 teams will play in the 2028 Olympics, selected via continental qualification and ICC rankings.
• New Zealand could overtake Australia in rankings, potentially securing a direct Olympic spot if they advance far in the World Cup.
• If Australia falls in rankings, they face a separate qualification tournament, a major setback for Cricket Australia's long-standing Olympic efforts.