ICC Meeting in Zimbabwe For The Future of Cricket in Olympic
A four-day meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) begins on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Harare, Zimbabwe. This gathering comes at an exciting time for cricket, just one day after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA 28) confirmed that cricket will be part of the Games. While the event is a big deal for Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) as they host it for the first time, the spotlight is on what the ICC might discuss about cricket’s Olympic future.
The meeting starts in Harare for two days, April 10 and 11, before moving to Victoria Falls for more talks on April 12 and 13. ICC Chairman Jay Shah and other key cricket leaders will be there. Although the full agenda isn’t public, the timing suggests that cricket’s inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics will be a hot topic. With only six men’s teams and six women’s teams allowed to compete, the ICC has some big decisions ahead.
Cricket returning to the Olympics after more than 100 years is huge news. However, picking just 12 teams total for the 2028 Games is a challenge. One idea floating around is that the United States, as the host country, might get an automatic spot. But figuring out the other five teams for both men and women will take careful planning. While no official choices are expected from this meeting, the delegates might start laying the groundwork.
Zimbabwe Cricket is proud to host this event. Their statement said, “ZC will this week host the ICC Board and Committee Meetings, marking a major milestone for our country in the global game.” They also noted that the meetings will cover “critical governance, strategic, and operational matters shaping the future of the sport worldwide.” So, while the Olympics will likely come up, the ICC will also talk about other ways to grow cricket globally.
ICC President Jay Shah, along with cricketers Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya met Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum in Mumbai during the Dubai-India Business Forum. @ICC @JayShah @HamdanMohammed @hardikpandya7 @ImRo45 @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/S98UwHCUwY
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) April 10, 2025
The LA 28 announcement on April 9 has everyone buzzing. Cricket last appeared in the Olympics in 1900, so bringing it back is a big step. But with only six spots per gender, the ICC needs a fair way to choose teams. Some think top-ranked teams could qualify, while others wonder if regional spots, like one for Africa or Asia, might work. This meeting in Zimbabwe could be where these ideas start taking shape.
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani called it a “proud and historic moment” for Zimbabwe. He added, “We are fully prepared to host these cricket leaders and show them our nation’s beauty and hospitality.” While Zimbabwe is excited to welcome the ICC, the real focus for many is how the talks might influence the Olympics. The move to Victoria Falls after Harare adds a scenic twist, giving delegates a stunning backdrop as they discuss cricket’s future.
Even though the agenda isn’t out, the Olympic question looms large. Deciding which teams play in LA will affect players, fans, and countries worldwide. The ICC might not settle everything in Zimbabwe, but they could start planning how to pick teams, whether through rankings, qualifiers, or something else. For now, the automatic U.S. spot is just a guess, not a done deal.
The meetings will also cover other cricket matters. The ZC statement mentioned that leaders like Jay Shah and the ICC Board will focus on “big decisions and plans” for the sport. This shows that while the Olympics are exciting, the ICC has a lot on its plate. Still, with LA 28 so close to this gathering, it’s hard to imagine the topic won’t come up.
