ICC Introduces Major Changes to ODI and T20 World Cup Formats
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced significant changes to the formats of its flagship men’s tournaments, the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup. The new structure is designed to make every match more competitive while providing additional opportunities for teams to qualify for the knockout stages.
The revised formats were approved during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh and are expected to be implemented from the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup, subject to final approval later this year.
ODI World Cup Expanded to 14 Teams
The Men’s ODI World Cup will once again feature 14 teams, compared to the 10-team format used in the previous two editions.
The tournament will begin with a preliminary round before moving into the main group stage. The top-performing teams will then qualify for a newly introduced Super 7 stage, replacing the previous Super 6 format.
According to the ICC, the Super 7 will increase the importance of every fixture, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
The revised format will increase the total number of matches from 48 to 57, giving fans more high-quality contests throughout the tournament.
New Super 10 Stage for T20 World Cup
The ICC has also introduced a major overhaul to the Men’s T20 World Cup.
Instead of four groups of five teams, the tournament will now begin with five groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the next stage.
The current Super 8 round will be replaced by a Super 10, featuring two groups of five teams.
The winners of each Super 10 group will qualify directly for the semi-finals, while teams finishing second and third will compete in Eliminator matches, similar to the IPL playoff format, for the remaining two semi-final spots.
Qualification Pathway Updated for 2028
The ICC has also revised the qualification process for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup.
While several teams will qualify automatically, the remaining places will be decided through regional qualification tournaments across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and East Asia-Pacific.
The updated system is expected to provide greater opportunities for emerging cricket nations while maintaining a competitive qualification structure.
ICC Looking to Improve Global Events
The ICC said the new tournament formats are aimed at creating more meaningful matches, improving competitive balance and enhancing the overall experience for players, teams and fans.
Officials believe the additional stages and revised qualification process will make every match more significant throughout the competition.
Final Approval Still Pending
Although the format changes have been endorsed by the ICC Board, they will undergo one final review by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee before becoming official.
If approved, the new structures will be introduced for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup and the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup, marking one of the biggest format changes in recent ICC tournament history.
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