Olympic qualification, future of Test cricket among major topics at ICC AGM

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has begun its Annual General Meetings (AGM) in Singapore today, July 17, where key decisions about the future of the game will be discussed.

One of the most important topics on the agenda is the qualification pathway for cricket’s return to the Olympics in 2028. The sport will be part of the Los Angeles Games for the first time since 1900, with six teams each in the men’s and women’s competitions. However, the method for selecting these teams is yet to be finalised.

While earlier reports suggested that qualification might be based on ICC team rankings, the governing body is now also considering a separate qualifying event. A mix of both rankings and qualifiers is another option under discussion. However, concerns over costs and an already tight international calendar may result in the qualifying tournament proposal being dropped.

It is also expected that the USA will receive automatic qualification in one of the competitions as the host nation.

Another major topic set to be discussed is the future of Test cricket. The ICC is exploring a two-tier system, which would see the top-performing teams playing more high-profile series, especially the ‘big three’ — India, Australia and England. This proposal has gained support after record-breaking attendance during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, which drew over 837,879 spectators.

As per earlier reports, the top division could include seven teams — Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — while the second division may consist of West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Key issues to be addressed include promotion and relegation rules, along with the distribution of revenue among teams.

In addition, the AGM may also see a final decision on the suspension of USA Cricket. The board was placed under a governance notice in July 2024 due to internal management issues, including lack of transparency and ineffective operations. Since then, the ICC has been directly managing USA Cricket’s funding. If there is no improvement, the board may face suspension and possible expulsion from the ICC.

These meetings are expected to shape the future direction of international cricket and determine how the game will expand on the global stage in the coming years.