ICC Set to Discuss Qualification Process for Cricket in LA 2028 Olympics

Ever thought what an age limit would have been imposed on international cricket, then how would Sachin Tendulkar have even become a star? Well, the past is gone, but the future is coming. And, having an age limit in international cricket is something that has been around in the International Cricket Council (ICC).

For the upcoming meeting next week, the ICC will be engaging in a few topics, including minimum age regulations and the qualification process for the LA28 Olympics. This time, the annual conclave will be held in Singapore from 17 to 20 July.

What will be LA 2028 Olympics Qualification Process in Cricket?

After 128 years, cricket is set to return to the Olympics, which is huge news for the fans and the community in general. The LA28 Olympics cricket is a great step towards the growth of the game. But the LA 2028 Olympics qualification process isn't sorted out yet. According to Cricbuzz, the CEC will have a discussion on the forum with ICC and come up with a process. Moreover, the matches will be in a T20I format, which is confirmed by the Board.

Meanwhile, it's decided that the six teams from both men's and women's categories will participate in the Olympics. One of the suggestions included going by the ranks. In that case, top teams like India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Indies will get a chance to play in the Olympics.

Even in the women's rankings, these are the teams that hold the top position, but in a different order. But, the participation of the United States teams is still in question since it's the host nation. Hence, ICC's Chairman Jay Shah was spotted in Los Angeles to have a conversation with the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

ICC's newly appointed CEO, Sanjog Gupta, will chair the Annual Conference on July 18 in Singapore. Apart from him, it's also Chairman Jay Shah's first general body meeting. After being BCCI's secretary for quite some time, Jay Shah was elected unopposed as ICC's Chairman in December 2024.

Minimum Age for International Cricket

As per a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC is considering having a minimum age for international cricket players. While the reason behind this isn't clear yet, the Board might take some serious action next week. The Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) is behind the age criteria as suggested in the reports. Moreover, their Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised taking the topic into consideration in the upcoming meeting.

If we open the history books and check, age has never been a factor in international cricket. Pakistan's Hasan Raza debuted at the age of 14, Mushtaq Mohammad at 15, and Sachin Tendulkar at 16. These are the legends of the game we are talking about here. Apart from them, one recent example would be Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made his IPL debut at 14 years.

He went on to become the youngest player in the history of the league to slam a century in the tournament. Since ICC might have a guideline already for the age criteria, which is 15 in the senior level, they might just end up updating it after the discussion. The decision on age limitations is quite vital, and the board will have to be quite sensitive about the matter. In a game like cricket, fitness and performance are more important than age. So, the ICC will have to make a tough call in the meeting.