The West Indies are ineligible to compete as a team in the 2028 Olympic Games.
This was announced by the ICC as it today laid out the guidelines for qualification for the event.
The qualification system combines performances at existing ICC events with the ICC Women’s T20I rankings.
Five of the six Olympic places will be awarded through this process, while the remaining berth will be decided at the inaugural ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
For the women, Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain have qualified through their performances in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
For the men, four spots will be decided by the ICC T20I rankings, with the highest-placed eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania on December 31st 2026 progressing.
For the fifth spot, USA, as hosts, are eligible to qualify for both men’s and women’s events but they have to appear in the top 15 of the respective ICC T20I rankings at any time during the qualification period from June 30th 2026 to December 31st 2026.
The sixth team for each event will be decided by the Qualifier event, which will feature eight nations in each of the men’s and women’s competitions.
The teams will be decided by the ICC T20I rankings.
If the West Indies’ men’s and women’s teams are among the eight highest-ranked teams not yet qualified by December 31st 2026, there will be a dedicated Caribbean Qualifier event.
“The qualification pathway also addresses the unique case of the West Indies. As the side represents multiple Caribbean nations rather than a single IOC-recognised National Olympic Committee (NOC), it cannot directly compete at the Olympic Games. Should the West Indies finish among the highest-ranked teams not already qualified by the end of 2026, the ICC will stage a dedicated Caribbean Qualifier to determine which NOC progresses to the ICC Olympics Qualifier.”
