ICC To Set Up 'Working Group' To Sort Out LA28 Qualification, Format Restructuring
ICC to form a Working Group to decide LA28 Olympic qualification, review cricket formats, and explore Test restructuring. Minimum age for internationals remains 15.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to form a Working Group to take care of some of the pressing issues globally. This was among the key takeaways of the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting held in Singapore on Friday. The meeting was chaired by new ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, and ICC Chair Jay Shah attended in his ex-officio capacity.
According to Cricbuzz, the Working Group will look after the structure of various formats of the game and the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Also, the formation of this group is expected to be fast-tracked and could be finalised as early as Saturday, during the upcoming ICC Board meeting.
The Working Group will reportedly include members from both the CEC and the Board, and will be given clear responsibilities — the top priority being to recommend a qualification system for the LA28 Olympics.
The gentlemen's game will return in the Olympics with six teams each in the men's and women's categories. However, the qualification process still remains a concern. The global body seems divided on this, as many believe that world rankings should be used to determine the qualifiers, whereas some have suggested organising a qualifying tournament. But holding a tournament seems unlikely due to the tight schedule and a packed Future Tours Programme (FTP).
Meanwhile, the proposal for a two-tier Test format — a hot topic in recent times — was not discussed at the CEC meeting. However, it is expected that the Working Group will explore this issue and suggest whether changes are needed in the structure of Test cricket. The same applies to possible adjustments in ODI and T20I formats.
Minimum Age To Play International Cricket
Another key decision taken at the meeting was to keep the minimum age for playing senior international cricket at 15, based on recommendations from the ICC's Medical Advisory Committee. However, exceptions may be allowed in special circumstances.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Anush Agarwalla with his mare Floriana wins dressage event in Germany
India's Anush Agarwalla won the the dressage event of the Jubilaumsturnier Hofgeismar Open to record his maiden victory with his mare Floriana here. Agarwalla, who represented the country at the Paris Olympics, recorded an impressive 69.891 per cent points to finish atop in the six-member field with each of the other competitors being from Germany. Pia Piotrowski and Katharina Hemmer finished second and third respectively. The win marked the first triumph for the pair at the S level as it also was only the second time Agarwalla and his seven-year-old mare were competing in an event. "I'm incredibly proud of Floriana, this was only her second S competition and she handled it with maturity beyond her years," Agarwalla said in a release. "Winning here is a special moment for both of us. I want to sincerely thank Anna Scholermann for her constant guidance, training, and belief in us. This is just the beginning for Floriana, and I'm excited about what the future holds," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen pulls out of US Open after elbow surgery
Last Updated: New York, Jul 22 (AP) Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen withdrew from the US Open, two days after announcing she had arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow because of 'persistent pain." The sixth-ranked Zheng was coming off a first-round loss at Wimbledon last month. 'Over the past months, I've been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches," the right-handed 22-year-old from China said on social media Saturday. 'Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away." Zheng said she anticipated her recovery would take months, so the exit from the year's last Grand Slam tournament was not a surprise. The US Open begins August 24. She was replaced in the field by France's Leolia Jeanjean. AP SSC SSC Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Will Team India Boycott Pakistan In World Cup After WCL Snub? Salman Butt Dares BCCI
In a dramatic turn of events, the India vs Pakistan clash in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was called off after several Indian players, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdrew from the high-voltage encounter. The move, which came amid rising nationalist sentiment and backlash over geopolitical tensions, has ignited a fiery debate over the future of Indo-Pak cricket—stretching even to global platforms like the ICC World Cup and the Olympics. What was expected to be a nostalgic face-off between cricketing legends turned into a diplomatic flashpoint. The game, slated for Sunday in Birmingham, was scrapped just hours before the toss, prompting accusations, finger-pointing, and some stinging commentary from the Pakistani camp. Salman Butt's Explosive Reaction: "Now Don't Play in World Cup or Olympics Either" Leading the charge was former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who lambasted the Indian contingent for their decision to pull out. In a hard-hitting video on his YouTube channel, Butt accused India of politicizing sport and challenged them to maintain the same stance across all major events—including ICC tournaments and even the Olympics. 'Make this a promise now,' Butt declared. 'If you're boycotting here because of politics, don't face us at the World Cup, don't compete in the Olympics. Let the world see how consistent your nationalism really is.' Butt's comments have since gone viral across social media, fueling widespread discussion about the limits of sporting diplomacy and whether political decisions should dictate team participation in international fixtures. The Fallout: Pressure, Patriotism, and Public Sentiment The Indian players' decision to back out reportedly stemmed from the public backlash following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which triggered a strong military response from India via Operation Sindoor. Key figures including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan are said to have withdrawn in solidarity, unwilling to be seen sharing a field with their Pakistani counterparts. While WCL organisers issued an apology, stating they had 'unintentionally caused discomfort' to Indian players, the damage was already done. What was meant to be a celebration of cricketing nostalgia quickly escalated into a diplomatic drama. Expert Take: National Identity vs Global Sporting Spirit From a broader lens, this episode raises critical questions: Should political tensions override sporting commitments? Can India-Pakistan matches exist in a vacuum, untouched by the historical baggage they carry? Analysts believe this controversy is just the tip of the iceberg. With major tournaments like the Asia Cup, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and even the Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon, calls for an official stance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are growing louder. 'Consistency is key,' said one cricket analyst. 'If India refuses to play Pakistan at one level, they'll face mounting pressure to do the same at all levels. But that also risks isolating cricket from global diplomacy, where such matches often act as soft-power engagement tools.'
