ICC Approves Olympic Cricket Qualifiers in Los Angeles, Matches to be Held in the USA and Bangladesh

New Delhi, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the final qualification spots for cricket at the Los Angeles Olympic Games will be determined through tournaments held in the USA and Bangladesh. The men’s qualifier is scheduled from February 5 to 13, 2028, while the women’s event will take place from February 26 to March 5, 2028.

This decision was made during a meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, where the ICC Board confirmed the host locations and dates for both events. Each qualifier will feature eight teams, divided into two groups of four. A total of 13 matches will be played in each tournament.

The winners of each group will advance to the finals, with the victorious team earning the last qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

These decisions are part of the ICC’s efforts to enhance opportunities for both full and associate members and to strengthen the competitive framework of international cricket. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta emphasized the significance of the event calendar and qualification methods for the global development of the sport. He stated, “The portfolio and schedule of ICC events are crucial components of the cricketing landscape. They add context, competition, and importance throughout the cricket ecosystem.”

Gupta further noted the importance of providing timely information about these events to players and member associations, which will help in developing better pathways for player growth and high-performance programs.

Additionally, the ICC has approved the qualification framework for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. This tournament, set to occur in the first quarter of 2028, will involve 16 teams competing in a total of 31 matches. Teams will be divided into four groups of four, leading to knockout rounds.

The qualification system will ensure regional representation, allowing the best-performing team from each region that meets minimum performance standards to qualify. Remaining spots will be allocated based on overall rankings. For the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, global qualifiers will include teams from the Netherlands and Scotland, who participated in the 2026 World Cup but did not qualify directly for the upcoming tournament.

The global qualifier will allocate two spots each to Africa, Asia, and East Asia-Pacific, with one spot each for the Americas and Europe. The top two teams from this qualifier will secure their places in the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup. The ICC Board has also approved the schedule for major men’s events through 2035, providing clarity for the international cricket calendar.

Australia and New Zealand will host the Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 from October 12 to November 12. England is set to host the final of the World Test Championship in 2029, while Ireland and Scotland will co-host the Men’s T20 World Cup 2030 from July 4 to August 4.

India will host the Men’s Champions Trophy in 2029 from October 9 to 28, and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031 will be jointly hosted by India and Bangladesh from October 9 to November 23. This comprehensive schedule includes future events like the Men’s T20 World Cup 2032, World Test Championship finals, and the 2035 Men’s Cricket World Cup, with host confirmations pending.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier will feature 10 teams competing in 23 matches in February-March 2027. Teams will be split into two groups of five, with the top four qualifying for the 2027 World Cup. The winning team will advance directly to the group stage, while the other three will compete in a ‘Super Series’ for the final group stage spot.