The International Cricket Council (ICC) has updated its global cricket calendar, confirming that the men’s and women’s qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will take place in January and February 2028. The ICC has also scheduled the 2029 World Test Championship final to be played in England from June 8 to 12.
The dates were included in a global events calendar shared with member boards following meetings in Dubai in October. The schedule covers 12 men’s, seven women’s and five Under-19 events, including qualifiers, between the 2027 and 2031 ODI World Cups. While several major tournaments had already been allocated in 2021, the ICC has now finalised dates for additional competitions, with some details still to be confirmed.
The Olympic cricket qualifiers were initially planned for 2027 but have been moved to early 2028, less than six months before the Los Angeles Games begin. Cricket will return to the Olympics at LA28 for the first time since 1904, marking a significant moment for the sport’s international growth.
In the women’s competition, Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain have already secured qualification as the highest-ranked eligible teams from their respective continents based on performances at the T20 World Cup. The remaining places will be determined through the qualification process established by the ICC.
For the men’s event, the top eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania will qualify directly based on the ICC T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026. The United States, as hosts, are also eligible for direct entry if they meet the ICC’s ranking requirements.
The USA men’s team are currently ranked 13th in the T20I standings, putting them in a position to secure their Olympic place under the existing criteria. However, the women’s team face a more difficult challenge, with their ranking currently below the required threshold.
The ICC has also revised the qualification criteria for the USA women’s team. If they fail to meet the ranking requirement by December 31, 2026, the additional Olympic qualification spot will be allocated according to the standings at the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in India in February 2027.
The venues for the men’s and women’s Olympic qualifiers have not yet been announced. Each qualifying tournament will feature eight teams, comprising the seven highest-ranked eligible sides outside the automatic qualifiers and the winner of the Caribbean Regional Qualifier.
The ICC has also confirmed the schedule for two major T20 World Cups in 2028. The 12-team Women’s T20 World Cup will be held in Pakistan from September 7 to October 1, while the 20-team Men’s T20 World Cup will take place in Australia and New Zealand from October 12 to November 12. The two tournaments will be separated by just 11 days.
Meanwhile, the ICC has shifted the window for the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup from June to July and August. England, Ireland and Scotland are scheduled to host the 20-team tournament, which will bring another major international cricket event to the region.
The updated calendar provides greater clarity for member boards as they plan their international schedules and prepare teams for upcoming global competitions. With Olympic qualification, consecutive T20 World Cups and the 2029 World Test Championship final now placed on the calendar, the coming years are set to feature a packed programme of international cricket.
