Caribbean body asks for transparent pathway for Olympic games qualification with the hope of sending at least one team.
Caribbean body CWI asks ICC for ‘fair and transparent’ pathway to LA28 Olympics.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has requested that the ICC offer a clear and equitable route for at least one of the Caribbean’s independent countries to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The problem is that only sovereign nations are permitted to compete at the Olympic Games, while Caribbean island nations play cricket under the “West Indies” flag and are governed by a single cricket body (CWI). The area expects to see at least one of its sovereign states competing in the Los Angeles Olympics, where six countries will compete in the men’s and women’s T20 competitions.
“The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance,” CWI president Kishore Swallow said in a statement. “Cricket’s return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes. The Olympic Charter emphasizes fairness, transparency, and universality. We are simply asking that these principles be upheld – not just in spirit, but in structure. West Indies cricket must have a pathway, and fully deserves an opportunity to compete.”
According to the ICC T20I rankings, the men and women of the West Indies are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Both men and women should make the cut if the teams are decided by rankings (at a deadline) and there aren’t many changes to the present standings. However, there’s a catch: the USA, as the hosts, may automatically qualify even though they are ranked low. Although that hasn’t been confirmed yet, there would only be five more slots available if that were to occur.
The Olympic qualification procedure has not yet been announced by the ICC.
According to the T20I rankings at a deadline, the ICC had recommended in its submission to LA28 that the six sides be shortlisted. Although not yet determined, the final qualification decision is anticipated to be made this year.
On the question of USA, Kit McConnell, the International Olympic Committee’s sports director, had said in October 2023, “Normally, the host country is one of the teams in the team sports, and then we look at a balance of global strength and regional representation, and try and find that balance within the available quota as well.”