ICC approves new formats for Men’s ODI and T20 World Cups, Mauritius joins as member
ICC introduces new formats for ODI and T20 World Cups
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has endorsed significant alterations to the formats of its premier men’s tournaments, including the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup. These decisions were made during the ICC Board’s annual meetings in Edinburgh, following recommendations from the Chief Executives’ Committee. The changes aim to enhance the significance of matches from the initial stages, elevate competitive standards, and provide an improved experience for both players and fans.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will maintain its 14-team structure but will now feature a three-stage format leading into the knockout rounds. The three lowest-ranked qualified teams (Teams 12, 13, and 14) will first compete in a round-robin ‘Super Series‘. The winner of this series will then advance to join the remaining 11 teams in the subsequent phase.
The second round will consist of two groups, each comprising six teams, who will play a round-robin. From these groups, the top three teams from each, along with the next highest-placed team across both groups, will progress to the ‘Super 7‘ stage. The Super 7 will involve a single round-robin among the seven teams, with the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the first-placed team will play the fourth, and the second will face the third, with the victors proceeding to the final match.
The 20-team ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will also undergo a substantial revision. The opening phase will now feature five groups of four teams, a change from the previous four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the next stage, which has been expanded from the ‘Super Eights‘ to a ‘Super 10‘.
The Super 10 stage will be composed of two groups, each with five teams. The team that finishes first in each of these groups will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. The teams finishing second in each group will then play against the third-placed team from the opposing group in two eliminator matches. The winners of these eliminator matches will complete the semi-final lineup. This revised structure increases the number of teams in the second phase from eight to 10, aiming to create more opportunities for emerging nations and ensure stronger competition throughout the tournament.
Qualification pathway for 2028 T20 World Cup and other key decisions
The ICC also approved the qualification system for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup. Scotland will receive direct entry into the Europe Regional Final due to exceptional circumstances related to its participation in the 2026 tournament. Teams that participated in the 2026 T20 World Cup but did not secure automatic qualification will advance directly to the Global Qualifier.
The remaining eight spots in the Global Qualifier will be determined through regional qualification. Africa, Asia, and Europe will each receive two places, while the Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions will each have one berth. From the Global Qualifier, the highest-placed team from each region, along with the next three best-performing teams overall, will qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup, subject to minimum performance criteria.
In other significant developments, the ICC Board officially approved the admission of Mauritius as the 111th Member of the ICC. This decision highlights the ICC’s ongoing commitment to expanding the sport globally and fostering growth in new markets. A Governance Review Committee has been established, including Devajit Saikia (BCCI), Dr Mohammed Moosajee (Cricket South Africa), and Dr Ros Rivaz (ICC Independent Director).
The Board also formed a Franchise Leagues Committee, chaired by Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh Cricket Board), with members including Dr Rudie van Vuuren (Cricket Namibia), Devajit Saikia (BCCI), Richard Gould (England and Wales Cricket Board), and Todd Greenberg (Cricket Australia). Additionally, the ICC Board approved a loan of USD 12.82 million to Cricket West Indies to support the Member Board.
Key decisions regarding ICC membership also included the approval of Reinstatement Conditions for Cricket Canada, outlining the requirements for lifting its suspension from ICC Membership. Cricket Canada will remain suspended until these conditions are met. An update was also provided on Sri Lanka Cricket, noting progress towards adopting a revised Constitution and reiterating the importance of holding elections promptly. Sri Lanka Cricket will not be represented at ICC Board meetings for the time being. The ICC Annual General Meeting also placed France Cricket on Notice for breaches of the ICC Membership Criteria.
The newly elected President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board was recognised as the Member’s Full Member Director.
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Source: icc-cricket.com
