Infection with Plasmodium parasites may elicit cerebral malaria (CM) and inflammatory immune response in the central nervous system with acute respiratory distress and anemia. T lymphocytes play a critical role in experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) caused by Plasmodium berghei ANKA. However, the contribution of innate immune cells such as neutrophils, platelets and innate lymphoid cells (ILC) is less known. Here we review the role of the innate immune cells in the development of ECM and human cerebral malaria (HCM).