NEW DELHI
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is rapidly expanding the game’s global footprint through a massive education initiative, preparing the sport for its big return at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Since its launch in 2021, the Training and Education (T&E) Programme has seen over 63,000 users complete 43,000 courses, spanning 110 nations and 14 different languages.
The program is designed to improve the quality of coaching, umpiring, and pitch curation at every level. A recent success story features Craig Williams, who rose through the ICC coaching ranks to lead Namibia in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Beyond professional ranks, the “Criio” school initiative has engaged over 725,000 participants, with a remarkable 49 percent being women and girls.
To accelerate this growth, the ICC is launching a new digital Learning Management System. This mobile-friendly platform will help member nations track their domestic progress and refine training strategies. ICC General Manager Will Glenwright emphasized that building a strong global workforce is essential for the sport’s long-term health and its upcoming Olympic debut.
Currently, 21 member nations have already secured Olympic funding to support these development systems. The ICC has set ambitious targets for 2028, aiming for 200,000 course completions and ensuring that every member nation is actively participating. By focusing on grassroots education and gender equality, the ICC hopes to create a sustainable and high-performing environment for cricket on the world’s biggest sporting stage.