Cricket West Indies (CWI) has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to establish a fair and transparent route for at least one of the Caribbean’s sovereign states to participate in cricket at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The central challenge here lies in the fact that, unlike in cricket where West Indies competes as a combined team from multiple countries, the Olympics require representation only by sovereign countries. Therefore, athletes from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and St. Lucia cannot compete together under the West Indies banner. As such, the region wishes for at least one of these states to compete when cricket features at the Olympics, where six nations will take part.
Currently, the West Indies women’s team ranks sixth and the men’s team fifth in the ICC T20I rankings, with a notable history of success including two T20 World Cup victories for the men and one for the women. The ICC has the responsibility to decide which teams will play in the Olympics.
An additional complication is the possibility that the United States, as the host nation, might be granted automatic qualification despite their relatively low rankings, although this is yet to be confirmed by the ICC. This reduces the number of available spots to five.
Kishore Swallow, CWI president, stated, “The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance. 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.”
CWI has proposed two potential solutions to the ICC. Firstly, should the West Indies teams meet the qualification criteria based on rankings, an internal tournament amongst the Olympic-affiliated nations within the West Indies could determine which country advances. Alternatively, a global qualifying system could include both ICC associate members and West Indies affiliated nations in the five ICC Development Regions.
The CWI board emphasises the need for clear and fair qualification criteria, highlighting the principles stated in the Olympic Charter. Caribbean nations have a rich history of Olympic success, often excelling in track events and featuring prominently among medal-winning nations per capita.
CWI CEO Chris Dehring underscored the sentiment, remarking, “Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums.”
