Cricket is all set to return to the Olympics in 2028. And the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have approved the qualification pathway for the men’s and women’s event.
How many teams will play in the LA28 Olympics cricket event?
A total of six teams each will feature in the cricket event at the LA28 Olympics.
How will cricket teams qualify for the LA28 Olympics?
Teams will qualify for the LA28 Olympics through a combination of ICC T20I rankings, ICC tournaments and a global ICC Olympic qualifier.
Four of the six teams will gain automatic qualification in both events. The top teams in the ICC T20I rankings from each of Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania will seal direct spots.
For instance, South Africa (Africa), India (Asia), Great Britain (Europe) and Australia (Oceania) have qualified for the women’s event after finishing as the highest-placed teams from their regions in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
For the men’s event, the top-ranked teams from each region as of December 31, 2026, will make the cut. South Africa, India, Great Britain and Australia will most likely seal their spots in the men’s event as well.
What about the fifth spot?
As for the fifth spot, it’s marked for a team from the Americas. And the USA’s men’s and women’s teams are eligible for that spot for being the hosts.
But the USA need to be in the top 15 in the ICC T20I men’s and women’s team rankings at any point from June 30, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
If they fail to meet this criterion in respective categories, the fifth spot will go to the highest-ranked team in the ICC rankings apart from the four already qualified teams.
And what’s the qualification scenario for the sixth spot?
The ICC will organise a global Olympics qualifier to fill up the sixth spot. The qualifier will take place between the next eight highest-ranked teams in 2027.
If the West Indies are among the eight teams in men’s and women’s rankings, there will be a separate Caribbean qualifier.
What’s the need for a Caribbean qualifier?
See, the West Indies are made up of several Caribbean countries. And they aren’t recognised as an IOC National Olympic Committee. So they can’t directly play as the West Indies.
But the ICC will organise a qualifier to determine one of the Caribbean countries that will feature in the global qualifier.
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