EXPLAINED: Why West Indies’ two T20 World Cup champions may miss out on LA Olympics | Cricket News
New Delhi: Both West Indies Men’s T20 World Cup champions could miss out on cricket’s return to the Olympics in 2028 after the qualification process was revealed on Monday (June 29). Six teams each will play in the men’s and women’s T20 competitions at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.In addition to the four continental eligible National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and one quota place for host USA, one more place will be decided by virtue of a Global Olympic Qualifying Final Tournament (FOCGQT).Based on the standings on December 31, 2026, a qualifying tournament will be played with the “next eight highest ranked eligible teams not yet qualified”.If West Indies, who are currently seventh in the ICC T20I rankings, the ICC will organize a West Indies Nations Regional Tournament.It will be played to decide which NOC will compete in the FOCGQT. Unlike the ICC, which recognizes the collection of Caribbean islands as the West Indies, this is not the case with the IOC (International Olympic Committee).Therefore, the IOC recognizes Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands as separate NOCs. ICC, however, is not.The NOC that wins the FOGQT will secure the final Olympic quota place.Cricket returns to the Olympics after a gap of 126 years. The last time cricket was played at the Olympics was in Paris 1900.
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