‘Shut out of historical past’: Why have Cricket West Indies urged ICC to reconsider 2028 LA Olympics qualification course of? | Cricket News – The Times of India

Cricket West Indies has appealed to the International Cricket Council to set up a qualification pathway for Caribbean nations to compete within the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the place cricket will return after a 128-12 months absence with a six-workforce T20 match for each women and men.The qualification course of for the LA Olympics stays unannounced by the ICC, elevating issues for West Indies cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The difficulty stems from the distinctive construction of West Indies cricket, the place nations like Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago compete as a unified workforce in worldwide cricket however take part individually within the Olympics.This construction might probably exclude Caribbean involvement if Olympic qualification is set by world rankings alone.

“All we are asking is that our individual nations’ exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation,” mentioned CWI chief govt Chris Dehring. “Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums as perennial gold medallists. Now, with cricket’s inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not shut out of history. We are ready to collaborate. We are ready to compete. But above all, we are asking for fairness.”CWI acknowledges that fielding a unified West Indies workforce at LA 2028 is unlikely, regardless of their previous successes as T20 world champions in 2012 and 2016, with their ladies’s workforce additionally securing the worldwide title in 2016.In their letter to the ICC, CWI proposed two potential options for regional illustration.

The first proposal suggests an inter-Caribbean qualifying match if the West Indies groups safe a qualifying place.The second proposal recommends a devoted regional qualifying course of for all unbiased West Indies nations.“The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance,” mentioned CWI president Kishore Shallow. “Cricket’s return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes.”