EXPLAINED: Why two-time T20 World Cup champions West Indies may miss out on playing LA Olympics | Cricket News
New Delhi: Two-time Men’s T20 World Cup champions West Indies could miss cricket’s return to the Olympics in 2028 after the qualification process was revealed on Monday (June 29). Six teams each will play in the men’s and women’s T20 competitions at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.Besides four-highest ranked eligible National Olympic Committees (NOC) continentally and one quota place for the hosts USA, one more place will be decided by virtue of a Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOCGQT). Based on the rankings on 31 December 2026, a qualifying tournament will be played featuring the “next eight highest-ranked eligible teams not yet qualified.”If West Indies, who are currently seventh in the ICC T20I rankings, the ICC will organise a West Indies Nations Regional Tournament.It will be played to decide which NOC will compete in the FOCGQT. Unlike the ICC, which recognises the collection of Caribbean islands as the West indies, it is not the case with the IOC (International Olympic Committee).So, IOC recognises Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica , St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands, as separate NOCs. ICC, however, do not.The NOC that wins the FOGQT will secure the final Olympic quota place.Cricket returns to the Olympics after a 126 year period. The last time cricket was played at the Olympics was in Paris 1900.Cricket at LA2028Men: 6 teamsWomen: 6 teamsMen’s event1 team: Host USA qualifies if they remain in top-15 rankings on 31 December 2026.4 teams: Highest-ranked eligible NOCs continentally on December 31 (India, England, Australia, South Africa qualify based on current rankings)1 team: Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOGQT) of the next eight highest-ranked eligible teams that haven’t already qualified. West Indies, if it meets the rankings criteria, will play a regional tournament of its Caribbean islands.* New Zealand (currently 4th in the rankings) would not qualify automatically because Australia is already Oceania’s highest-ranked team.* Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would miss out because India occupies Asia’s continental berth. They will likely head to the qualifier.Women’s eventUnlike the men’s event which is decided by the rankings, the women’s will be decided by the ongoing T20 World Cup.4 teams: The automatic places go to the highest-placed eligible NOCs from four different continents at the World Cup.1 team: USA qualify as hosts if they stay within the top-15 rankings. They’re currently 20th.1 team: One final spot comes via the Global Qualification Tournament which will be played between the next eight highest-ranked eligible teams that haven’t qualified.Again, West Indies, if they are in this category, will play a regional tournament to ascertain which NOC qualifies for the Olympics.
