New Delhi, Nov 2026 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the final qualification spots for cricket's return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Games will be decided through two separate eight-team tournaments in the United States and Bangladesh. The men's Olympic qualifier will be held from February 5 to 13, 2028, while the women's competition is scheduled from February 26 to March 5.
The ICC Board confirmed the venues and dates following its meetings in Bali, Indonesia, on Sunday. Both tournaments will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four, with 13 matches scheduled in each competition. The two group winners will advance to the final, and the winner of each tournament will secure the final qualification berth for the respective Olympic event.
The decisions are part of a broader package of approvals covering international event schedules, competition formats and qualification pathways. The ICC said the measures are aimed at expanding opportunities for both Full Members and Associate Members and strengthening the competitive structure of international cricket.
ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said the international events calendar and qualification pathways were central to the global development of the sport.
"The ICC events portfolio and schedule are critical components of cricket's global architecture and deliver elevated context, competitiveness and consequence to the ecosystem. These tournaments serve as pinnacle moments for fans and players alike, with the associated pathways driving aspiration and access for the broader cricketing landscape," Gupta said.
He added that providing athletes and member associations with long-term visibility of major events was important for developing improved player pathways, focused high-performance programmes and structured calendars.
Men's T20 World Cup 2028 Global Qualifier
The ICC Board also approved the qualification framework for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 Global Qualifier. The tournament will feature 16 teams and 31 matches during the first quarter of 2028.
The teams will be divided into four groups of four, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. Eight teams will qualify from the Global Qualifier for the Men's T20 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.
The qualification structure will ensure regional representation. The highest-placed team from each region will qualify, subject to meeting minimum performance criteria. The remaining berths will be allocated to the next highest-ranked teams overall.
Women's T20 World Cup qualification pathway
The Board also confirmed the regional allocations for the Global Qualifier of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2028.
The Netherlands and Scotland, who participated in the 2026 edition but did not secure automatic qualification for the 2028 tournament, will join eight teams emerging from five regional qualifying competitions scheduled for 2027.
Africa, Asia and East Asia-Pacific will each receive two places in the Global Qualifier, while the Americas and Europe will have one place each. The top two teams from the Global Qualifier will secure the remaining qualification spots for the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup.
ICC confirms major men's events calendar through 2035
In another significant decision, the ICC Board approved the schedule of its major men's events through 2035, providing member nations with long-term clarity on the international cricket calendar.
Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup from October 12 to November 12.
England will stage the 2029 World Test Championship Final from June 8 to 12. The country will also jointly host the 2030 Men's T20 World Cup with Ireland and Scotland, with the tournament scheduled from July 4 to August 4.
India will host the 2029 Men's Champions Trophy from October 9 to 28. The 2031 Men's Cricket World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Bangladesh from October 9 to November 23.
The ICC calendar also includes the 2032 Men's T20 World Cup, the 2033 World Test Championship Final and Champions Trophy, the 2034 Men's T20 World Cup, and the 2035 World Test Championship Final and Men's Cricket World Cup. The host countries for these events are yet to be confirmed.
2027 Men's Cricket World Cup qualification
The ICC also outlined the qualification format for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier, scheduled to take place in February and March 2027. The competition will involve 10 teams playing 23 matches.
The teams will be divided into two groups of five, with the top sides progressing to the semi-finals and final. The four highest-placed teams will qualify for the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup.
Under the approved format, the tournament winner will advance directly to the World Cup group stage. The other three qualifying teams will compete in a Super Series to determine the final group-stage position.
The latest decisions underline the ICC's focus on providing a structured international calendar, clearer qualification routes and greater opportunities for teams across different regions. With cricket returning to the Olympics at LA28, the separate men's and women's qualifiers will offer national teams another significant pathway to the global sporting stage.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
