LA28 Olympics Cricket : In what marks a historic milestone for Zimbabwe Cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has convened a four-day high-profile meeting from April 10–13, 2025, held across Harare and Victoria Falls. While the official agenda remains under wraps, all eyes are on a major talking point: the inclusion of cricket at the LA28 Olympics—and more importantly, how teams will qualify for it.
Here’s everything you need to know about this significant ICC gathering and what could unfold regarding cricket’s long-awaited return to the Olympics.
LA28 Olympics Cricket – ICC Meeting in Zimbabwe: LA28 Olympics Cricket Qualification System Likely on Agenda
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ICC’s First-Ever Meeting in Zimbabwe: A New Chapter
The ICC’s decision to hold its board meetings in Zimbabwe for the first time ever is a big win for Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). The meetings began in Harare (April 10–11) and have now moved to the picturesque Victoria Falls (April 12–13), adding a symbolic backdrop to discussions that may reshape global cricket’s future.
Key figures present include:
- Jay Shah, ICC Chairman
- Devajit Saikia, BCCI Secretary
Their presence adds weight to speculation that critical decisions might be on the cards—none bigger than Olympic qualification pathways.
Cricket at LA28: The Olympic Comeback After 128 Years
Cricket will officially return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, a full 128 years after its only previous appearance at the 1900 Paris Olympics.
LA28 Cricket Format Highlights:
- T20 format for both men’s and women’s tournaments
- 6 teams per gender
- 90 athlete quotas each for men and women
- Each team will consist of 15 players
While the format is locked in, qualification details are still to be finalized—a key reason why this ICC meeting is under intense scrutiny.
Why LA28 Qualification Is a Hot Topic at the ICC Meeting
Cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics is a huge opportunity to globalize the sport. However, the limited six-team format raises critical questions:
Key Concerns:
- How will teams qualify fairly?
- Will the host nation USA get an automatic entry?
- What about cricket giants like India, England, and Australia?
- How will Associate Members be considered?
With 12 full ICC members and over 90 associate nations, deciding who makes it to LA28 is bound to be a complex and potentially contentious process.
India’s inclusion seems like a foregone conclusion, thanks to its unmatched global viewership and cricketing dominance. Similarly, USA, as the host nation, is likely to get an automatic berth.
But what about others like Afghanistan, Ireland, or Bangladesh—all strong teams in the T20 circuit? The ICC will have to carefully craft a qualification structure that balances competitiveness with global representation.
Possible Qualification Pathways Being Discussed
While nothing is official yet, here are a few possible options the ICC may be weighing:
- Top-Ranked T20 Teams according to ICC Men’s/Women’s Rankings by a cutoff date
- Continental Qualifiers (like in the FIFA World Cup or Olympics football model)
- T20 World Cup Performance-Based Qualification
- Host + Wildcard + Top Teams approach
- Hybrid Model: Rankings + Regional Representation
A fair qualification system will be crucial to ensure cricket’s Olympic return doesn’t feel exclusionary, especially for rising cricket nations.
Olympic Cricket: Growing Footprint at Multi-Sport Events
Cricket’s Olympic inclusion continues a trend of the sport being part of multi-sport games:
- 1998 Commonwealth Games (Men’s Cricket)
- 2022 CWG in Birmingham (Women’s T20)
- Asian Games: Men’s and Women’s T20 in 2010, 2014, and 2023
Now with the LA28 stage set, the spotlight is on how inclusive cricket can be under Olympic constraints.
The ICC’s Zimbabwe meeting may not have a public agenda, but the timing couldn’t be more telling. With LA28 cricket inclusion just confirmed, the ICC has a unique opportunity to lay the foundation for a fair and transparent qualification process.
As the sport returns to the Olympics after over a century, the world watches with anticipation. Will this ICC meeting shape the path for cricket’s next big global leap?
FAQs
How many teams will play cricket at the LA28 Olympics?
Six teams each in the men’s and women’s T20 tournaments will participate.
What format will cricket be played in at the Olympics?
The T20 format will be used for both men’s and women’s events.
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