Major Changes Announced for Mens Cricket World Cup and T20 Format

Edinburgh, July 15: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled significant changes to men’s cricket events. Under the new structure, the Men’s One Day World Cup will adopt a three-stage format, while the T20 World Cup will expand its second stage to include an ‘Eliminator’ round within a ‘Super 10’ format.

These decisions were finalized during the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh, following recommendations from the Chief Executives Committee (CEC). The governing body stated that the aim is to enhance competitiveness, increase excitement, and improve the overall experience for athletes and fans alike.

While the Men’s Cricket World Cup will continue to feature 14 teams, the tournament’s format will differ from previous editions. It will consist of three stages, culminating in the final. The three lowest-ranked teams (teams 12, 13, and 14) will initially compete in Round One, known as the ‘Super Series,’ where only the top team will advance to the main stage.

Round Two will include 12 teams divided into two groups of six. The top three teams from each group, along with the next highest-ranked team, will progress to a new seven-team round-robin stage called ‘Super 7.’ The top four teams from this stage will qualify for the semifinals.

The ICC emphasized that this structure is designed to foster a competitive atmosphere at every stage of the event. Matches in Rounds One and Two will be more impactful, leading to an exciting Super 7 stage where qualifying teams will vie for semifinal spots. Enhanced outcomes and increased excitement will further enrich the fan experience while providing emerging teams the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in cricket.

In addition, the ICC has decided to expand the second stage of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup from eight to ten teams, inspired by the performances of emerging nations.

The initial group stage will now consist of five groups of four teams each (totaling 30 matches), differing from the previous format of four groups of five teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the ‘Super 10’ stage, which will feature two groups of five teams.

A significant change in the knockout phase means that only the top team from each Super 10 group will qualify directly for the semifinals. Teams finishing second and third in their groups will face off in a crossover ‘Eliminator’ for the remaining semifinal spots.

The ICC stated that this change promises to enhance representation for emerging cricketing nations in the Super 10 stage, alongside improved competitive levels. The addition of the ‘Eliminator’ will also add significant weight to the final matches of the Super 10 stage.

Furthermore, the ICC board has laid out a roadmap for teams to qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle. Notably, Scotland has been granted direct entry into the Europe Regional Final due to exceptional circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 event, where they stepped in as a late replacement for Bangladesh.

Teams that do not qualify directly for the 2026 tournament will enter a global qualifier, alongside eight teams emerging from regional qualifiers. This includes two teams each from Africa, Asia, and Europe, and one team each from the Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions.

The ICC stated, “The top team from each region in the global qualifier, along with the next three highest-ranked teams overall, will qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028.”

While the ICC board has approved the format based on recommendations from the Development and Chief Executives Committees, final confirmation of this extensive roadmap will occur after a review by the Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee during meetings in November.