Cricket West Indies (CWI) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a "fair and transparent" pathway to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Cricket is set to return to the Olympics after 128 years, in the LA28 Olympics. However, the issue from CWI's perspective is that the West Indies is a conglomerate of the Caribbean Island nations, but only sovereign nations are allowed to participate in the Olympics – i.e. the region's constituents like Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, etc. These countries have participated in the Olympics before.
At the LA28 games, where six teams will play in the men’s and women’s T20 format, CWI hopes to have at least one of its sovereign nations in action.
"The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance," said CWI president Kishore Swallow in an official 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."
Also read: The cricket connections in Paris Olympics you may or may not have known
How will qualification for cricket at the 2028 Olympics take place?
There are no official announcements about what the qualification process will be for LA28. However, it is largely expected that the top six teams based on their T20I rankings at the cut-off date will qualify. The final call is expected to be taken later this year.
West Indies Women are ranked sixth on the ICC T20I rankings currently, and the men are fifth. So, if the cut-off date were to be applied today, they should make the cut. However, there is a caveat: USA as hosts might gain direct entry, leaving only five spots open for other teams to qualify.
Also read: Report: ECB in talks with Cricket Scotland to field Great Britain side for 2028 Olympics
On the USA's qualification, 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."
What are West Indies' suggestions to IOC?
In its latest suggestions, CWI stated that if both West Indies teams (men's and women’s) qualify based on their rankings, an international qualifying tournament among its Olympic-affiliated member countries should determine who should represent the West Indies.
Another alternative could be a global pathway consisting of associate ICC members in the five ICC Development Regions, plus member countries of the West Indies, suggested CWI in the statement.
At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, women’s cricket was included, and the West Indies gained direct entry. Jamaica was picked to represent the region, having won the CWI domestic competition at that time – the T20 Blaze.
Cricket has only once been played in the Olympics, way back in 1900. On that occasion, France and Great Britain competed, with Great Britain winning the two-day match by 158 runs.
Cricket has been played in the Olympics only once way back in 1900. At that time, France and Great Britain competed, with GB winning the two-day match by 158 runs. CWI emphasised that at least one team from the Caribbean should play in the Olympics to accommodate the region's "unique configuration".
Also read: Paris 1900: The cricketers who never knew they were Olympic medalists
"Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums as perennial gold medallists. Now, with cricket's inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not shut out of history. We are ready to collaborate. We are ready to compete. But above all, we are asking for fairness," said CWI chief executive Chris Dehring.
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