ICC Establishes Working Group to Chart Cricket's Course for LA28 Olympics, Mull Format Overhaul

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is establishing a Working Group to tackle key issues impacting the sport's future, including the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the restructuring of various game formats. The decision was made during the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting in Singapore. The minimum age for international cricket participation will remain at 15, with exceptions considered.

The formation of this Working Group is expected to be finalized quickly, potentially during the ICC Board meeting.

This group, composed of members from both the CEC and the Board, will focus on recommending a qualification process for the LA28 Olympics. While utilizing rankings to select participating teams seems to be a favored approach within ICC circles, the decision ultimately rests with the Working Group.

LA28 has allowed only six men and women cricket teams to participate in the Quadrennial Games © Getty

Alternative proposals, such as staging a qualifying tournament, have been suggested. However, logistical challenges related to time constraints and the already packed Future Tours Programme (FTP) make this option difficult. The ICC will task the Working Group with evaluating all viable possibilities. If a ranking-based qualification system is recommended, the group must also propose a suitable cut-off date for the rankings. Notably, LA28 has limited participation to six men's and six women's teams.

The CEC did not address the proposal for a two-tier Test structure. However, the Working Group is expected to consider a potential overhaul of the longest format of the game. Similarly, the group will explore potential changes to the structure of ODIs and T20Is.

The meeting, led by new CEO Sanjog Gupta, reaffirmed the minimum age of 15 for international players, based on recommendations from the ICC's Medical Advisory Committee. The CEC will consider exceptions under special circumstances. The committee also decided to initiate tenders for mobile gaming rights.

ICC Chair Jay Shah participated in the meeting as an ex-officio member.

Decision Imminent for USA Cricket

The ICC Board is expected to decide on the future of USA Cricket (USAC). The normalization committee has requested the USAC's resignation. With the Olympics approaching in the United States, the decision regarding USAC holds significant importance.