The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced sweeping reforms to the formats of its premier men’s global tournaments.
Approved during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the changes include a fresh three-stage format for the 14-team ODI World Cup and a redesigned T20 World Cup featuring a Super 10 phase and eliminator matches.
The 14-team ODI World Cup will retain its number of participating nations but adopt a completely new competition structure.
The three lowest-ranked teams will first contest a preliminary round called the Super Series, with only the table-topper progressing to the next stage.
The remaining 12 teams will then compete in two groups of six, playing 30 matches in total.
The top three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed side across both groups, will move into the newly created Super 7 stage.
Every team in the Super 7 will play each other once, with the top four earning places in the semi-finals.
The ICC said the revised system is intended to make every stage of the tournament more meaningful while allowing emerging cricketing nations to continue competing on the biggest stage.
Following the strong performances of associate and emerging teams during the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, the ICC has also revised the tournament’s format.
The opening round will now consist of five groups of four teams instead of four groups containing five teams.
The top two sides from each group will qualify for the new Super 10 stage, where they will be divided into two groups of five.
Group winners will book direct places in the semi-finals, while the second and third-placed teams will battle in crossover eliminators to secure the remaining two knockout spots.
According to the ICC, the revised format will increase opportunities for emerging nations while ensuring greater intensity in the closing stages of the competition.
The governing body has also finalised the qualification roadmap for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup.
The ICC granted Scotland direct entry into the Europe Regional Final after the team entered the 2026 tournament as a late replacement under exceptional circumstances.
The ICC will send teams that competed in the 2026 edition but failed to secure automatic qualification directly to the Global Qualifier.
Eight teams from regional qualification tournaments across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and East Asia-Pacific will join them in the Global Qualifier.
The leading team from each region, along with the next three highest-ranked sides overall, will secure places at the 2028 T20 World Cup, provided they meet the required performance criteria.
Although the ICC Board has endorsed the new tournament structures, the proposals will receive final approval after a review by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee during its November meetings.
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