DUBAI, UAE: International Cricket Council (ICC) has outlined a packed international cricket schedule for the coming years, confirming early 2028 qualification windows for the Los Angeles Olympics, the dates for the 2029 World Test Championship (WTC) final and revised timelines for several major tournaments through 2031.
🚨 ICC EVENTS SCHEDULE CONFIRMED UNTILL 2029. 🚨
– Olympics Qualifiers will take place in February 2028.
– Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 will run from October 12 to November 12.
– WTC 2029 Final scheduled from 8 to 12 June in England. https://t.co/SNcs8vK4ZM
— Qamar. (@Qamar5618) October 23, 2026
The Olympic cricket qualifiers for both men and women are scheduled for January and February 2028, while the WTC final will take place in England from June 8 to 12, 2029. The updated calendar provides greater clarity on the international cricket programme between the 2027 and 2031 ODI World Cups.
The schedule was shared with member boards following the ICC’s October meetings in Dubai. It currently includes 12 men’s, seven women’s and five Under-19 events, covering major international competitions and qualification tournaments, although some details remain unconfirmed.
Olympic cricket qualification moves to early 2028
The ICC has shifted the Olympic qualification tournaments from their initially planned 2027 window to January and February 2028, leaving less than six months before the Los Angeles Games.
Cricket will return to the Olympics at LA28 for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games, marking a significant milestone for the sport’s global expansion.
Read Also: How Likely Is an India-Pakistan Clash at the LA 2028 Olympics?
The ICC has also revised the qualification arrangements for the host nation, the United States, in the women’s competition.
Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain have already secured places in the women’s Olympic event as the highest-ranked eligible teams from their respective continents, based on performances at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
For the men’s competition, the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania, according to the ICC Men’s T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026, will qualify directly.
The United States can secure automatic entry into both competitions as hosts, provided their respective teams satisfy the ICC’s ranking requirements.
Under the criteria announced in June, both the US men’s and women’s teams must have ranked among the top 15 in the relevant T20I rankings at some point during the qualification period from June 30 to December 31, 2026.
The US men’s team, currently ranked 13th, is on course to meet the requirement. The women’s team, ranked 19th, faces a more difficult challenge.
🚨MEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION PROCESS CONFIRMED!
– Based on ICC T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026
– Highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe & Oceania secure automatic qualification
The race for LA 2028 is on! 🔥
#LA2028 #Olympics #ICC #CricketTwitter https://t.co/TP4qns2WAQ
— Clutch Sports (@Clutchsportsz) October 23, 2026
ICC revises US women’s qualification route
The ICC has changed the mechanism for filling the women’s Olympic qualification place if the United States fails to meet the host-nation ranking requirement.
Previously, the governing body had indicated that the place would go to the highest-ranked non-qualified team in the women’s T20I rankings as of March 1, 2027.
🚨 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐋𝐀𝟐𝟖 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖!
Originally scheduled for 2027, the qualifying events will now take place less than six months before the Los Angeles Games. 🏏
#CricketTwitter https://t.co/YWdFVEDKoh
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 23, 2026
Under the revised arrangement, if the US women fail to satisfy the ranking criteria by December 31, 2026, the vacant place will instead be allocated based on the standings at the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in India in February 2027.
The ICC has yet to announce venues for either Olympic qualifying tournament. Both competitions will feature eight teams, comprising the seven highest-ranked eligible sides outside the automatic qualifiers and the winner of the Caribbean regional qualifier.
Pakistan to host 2028 women’s T20 World Cup
The ICC has scheduled the 2028 Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups in consecutive windows, with just 11 days separating the two tournaments.
The 12-team Women’s T20 World Cup will run from September 7 to October 1, 2028, with Pakistan hosting the competition.
The 20-team Men’s T20 World Cup will follow from October 12 to November 12, 2028, with Australia and New Zealand jointly staging the tournament.
The back-to-back events will create a busy period on the international cricket calendar, bringing the women’s and men’s flagship T20 competitions within weeks of each other.
Read Also: Pakistan Cricket Team Face Tough Path to 2028 LA Olympics as ICC Unveils Qualification Format
Men’s T20 World Cup 2030 window revised
The ICC has also moved the scheduled window for the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup from June to July and August.
England, Ireland and Scotland have previously been awarded hosting rights for the 20-team tournament. The revised timing provides an updated framework for planning the competition, although further details remain subject to confirmation.
Read Also: Venue Announced for Cricket Competitions at Los Angeles Olympics 2028
Several major tournaments had already been confirmed by the ICC in 2021. The latest calendar adds clarity to their scheduling and qualification arrangements as international cricket prepares for an expanded Olympic presence.
The governing body is expected to announce further information on venues, qualification procedures and other outstanding arrangements for upcoming events in due course.
