The Cricket West Indies (CWI) has put in a plea to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to give the Caribbean nations “equal access” and a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. In a statement released by CWI on Friday, they insisted and urged that “the unique configuration of West Indies cricket be fairly accommodated in ongoing discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”
With a six-team T20 event in both the men’s and women’s games set to be included in the LA 2028, the Olympic Games will see cricket returning in this prestigious event for the first time since 1900.
The statement says, “Cricket West Indies’ proposal comes in light of the current Olympic rules that would exclude West Indies Men and Women teams from Olympic participation.” The ICC, cricket’s global governing body, is yet to announce the qualification process, but there are concerns in the West Indies that their constituent countries could be excluded.
“All we are asking is that our individual nations’ exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation,” said the Chief Executive Officer of CWI, Chris Dehring. The structure of West Indies cricket is unique— men and women teams representing 15 individual nations and territories, each with its own Olympic identity. We cannot let this once-in-a-generation opportunity for national development pass without creating a way for our countries to participate,” he added.
In the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Barbados were represented separately.
CWI president Kishore Shallow added, “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.”
In a letter to the ICC, CWI suggested two possible routes for regional representation:
An inter-Caribbean qualifying tournament should the West Indies men or women find themselves in a qualifying position, allowing the winner to take the region’s spot.
Or, a dedicated regional qualifying process involving each of the West Indies’ independent nations would take place.
