A regional cricket competition is set to be staged in the Caribbean next year to decide which nation will represent the West Indies at a global qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. With just one men’s T20 spot up for grabs through a final qualifier featuring eight teams, the upcoming regional event takes on historic significance as the path to Olympic glory becomes clearer.

The unique challenge facing the Caribbean stems from the structure of West Indies cricket itself. Traditionally, a unified West Indies team made up of multiple sovereign nations and territories such as Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and others competes in international tournaments under the governance of Cricket West Indies (CWI). However, the Olympics only permit participation by individual sovereign nations, not composite teams. As such, the West Indies cannot compete as a single entity in the Olympics, forcing the need for a regional playoff to determine a single representative nation.

A Rare Opportunity for Smaller Caribbean Nations

CWI President Kishore Shallow confirmed that a dedicated Olympic committee has been formed to oversee the process and will determine how many nations will compete in the Caribbean qualifier. “We welcome it, we embrace it,” Shallow said during the ICC’s Annual Conference in Singapore. “We’re going to try our best to use this exposure, this platform, to incentivize all our stakeholders.”

He added that the Olympic pathway could spark greater investment from regional governments and sponsors, boosting national pride and potentially rejuvenating grassroots cricket. “There will be more national interest and could also mean more commitment from players to play for their countries.”

A Global Qualifier Awaits in 2027

The regional winner from the Caribbean will advance to the global qualifier expected in 2027, where eight nations will battle for the sixth and final men’s Olympic T20 spot. Already expected in the line-up are New Zealand, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and four prominent Asian sides Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who may miss direct qualification through regional rankings.

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The five direct Olympic spots are allocated to the top-ranked teams from four ICC regions (Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania) alongside the host nation, the United States, who qualify automatically as the Americas’ representative. If the Olympic qualification cut-off were today, the automatic entries would be:

• India (Asia)
  
• Australia (Oceania)
  
• England/Great Britain (Europe)
  
• South Africa (Africa)
  
• USA (Host/Americas)
  

The remaining eight highest-ranked teams not qualified via this route will get a final shot at the global qualifier, with only one Olympic ticket on offer.

Olympic Format and Future Expansion

The men's and women's T20 tournaments at the 2028 Games will each feature six teams, played over two weeks from July 12–29 in Pomona, just outside Los Angeles. Cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics is considered a trial, with a successful showing in LA possibly opening the door to expanded formats at the 2032 Brisbane Games, which could feature up to 12 teams per gender and a combination of rankings and qualifiers.

For now, the Caribbean regional tournament is expected to deliver fierce rivalries and a rare sense of nationalism within the cricketing fraternity, as players may be called upon to represent their specific nations instead of the collective West Indies badge.

Exact dates, venues, and participating countries for the Caribbean qualifier will be announced in due course. While traditional powerhouses like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Barbados are likely front-runners, smaller nations could also mount a strong case, especially if top players commit to the Olympic vision. The road to LA 2028 has already begun, and for the West Indies region, it’s a journey unlike any other.

Cricket has taken a huge step towards growing its global appeal by earning a ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. However, the issue is around the participation of the number of sides. Only six teams will be allowed to make it into the final T20 matches to compete for the Gold, which indicates that the competition will be fierce.

The hosts, the United States of America, as the reports have revealed, have already qualified for the main event of the competition. Apart from them, five more nations will be trying hard to get their names in the tournament. The International Cricket Council, after two days of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), is set to use the regional rankings to decide which teams will go ahead.

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This means only the top-ranked teams of Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa will automatically qualify for the tournament. The final place for that will be decided by a qualifier. It was a concern, a few days ago, to find a suitable window for the games in the packed calendar, alongside a few logistical issues. But at the moment, it seems like the ICC is happy with the qualifying event.

Report reveals USA’s future of qualification for the LA2028 Olympics

It has also given an update on the West Indies. The problem for the Caribbean side is which country from them will represent the cricket game. But it has been disclosed, by the reports, that they are likely to hold their individual tournament to determine which country will play the qualifier from them.

On the other hand, the T20 World Cup will decide the women’s Olympics, and there is uncertainty about the USA’s selection. It’s the game’s return to the Olympics after over a century, and it will take place at the Fairgrounds stadium in the city of Pomona, about 50 km from Los Angeles, starting from July 12.

A few days ago, it was reported that the USA cricket team could face suspension. But the latest reports have revealed that the world body is set to give them a window of three months to clear the governance clearance. The board is under increased scrutiny ahead of the Olympics.

While Cricket is set to return to the Summer Olympics after 128 years, the cricket world is excited. However, there is a big question about the qualifications for the LA Olympics 2028, and most importantly for West Indies.  

Six men's teams and six women's teams will participate in the LA Olympics 2028, which will be played in the T20I format. Its qualification process for the LA Olympics 2028 is under discussion. However, there is a big issue regarding the two-time Men's ODI World Cup winners, two-time Men's T20 World Cup Winners, one-time Women's ODI World Cup winners, and one-time Women's T20 World Cup winners, the West Indies. 

Only countries that are recognised National Olympic Committees (NOCs) can participate in the Olympics. Meanwhile, the West Indies aren't recognised as a country by the NOC, as it is a combination of 12 sovereign countries and multiple overseas territories. So, the Caribbean teams are in danger of missing the LA Olympics 2028, which won't be a good story for the cricket world. 

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No clear pathway for West Indies to participate in LA Olympics 2028

Talking about West Indies' possible qualification pathway for the LA Olympics 2028, CWI president Kishore Shallow recently told AFP, “There is currently no clear pathway for a West Indies cricket team to participate in the Olympics. Cricket’s return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes. The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance.”

In the meantime, the project director of Cricket West Indies' (CWI) ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, Chris Dehring, quoted on this matter, “All we are asking is that our individual nations’ exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation.”

Great Britain also have tension for LA Olympics 2028

There is one solution running in the cricket world by presenting an inter-Caribbean qualifier for the LA Olympics 2028. Meanwhile, there is a similar issue for Team Great Britain (officially Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team), which participates in the Olympics with England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland jointly. 

Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympics stage at the LA 2028 Games beginning July 12. This will be cricket's first event at the Summer Games since Paris 1900, when only Great Britain and France competed in a single match that is now recognized as an unofficial Test match. The LA 2028 will have a much more modern and competitive format, with a T20 tournament and separate men’s and women’s tournaments.

Each tournament will have six teams competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals, with 90 athlete quotas for men and for women, so 90 athletes per gender. Teams will be permitted to name 15-member squads. The matches will mostly be played as double-headers, beginning at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time in Los Angeles. For Indian viewers, that translates to matches starting at 9:30 PM IST and 7:00 AM IST the following day. Notably, there will be no cricket matches on July 14 and 21.

All cricket matches are slated to take place at a temporary venue set up within the Fairgrounds in Pomona—officially known as Fairplex—about 50 kilometers from Los Angeles. This nearly 500-acre complex, known for hosting the LA County Fair and other major events, will transform into an Olympic cricket arena for the duration of the Games.

Cricket’s Olympic Revival and Multi-Sport Legacy

Cricket’s reintroduction to the Olympics follows a steady rise in its presence across major international multi-sport events. While the men’s game was featured at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, women’s cricket made its debut at Birmingham 2022. T20 cricket has also been played at several editions of the Asian Games, including 2010, 2014, and 2023.

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The sport joins four others—baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash—as new additions to the LA 2028 program. Squash, another discipline drawing Indian attention, will hold its medal events from July 23-24 at the Universal City Squash Center in Los Angeles.