ICC announces major format changes for men's Cricket World Cups

Image: Australian players celebrate winning the 2023 Cricket World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced revamped structures for its two men's World Cup tournaments, including the creation of new 'Super Series' and 'Super 7' rounds at next year's 50-over event.

World cricket's governing body stated that the changes, approved at its annual board meetings in Edinburgh, are designed "to elevate competitiveness and consequence" of its men's flagship global events.

The first change will take effect at the 2027 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in October–November next year.

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New Format for the 2027 ODI World Cup

While the tournament will feature 14 teams as previously planned, the three lowest-ranked sides will now first face each other in a 'Super Series' round. Only the top team from that round will progress to the main 12-team group phase.

The top three teams from each main group, plus the next best-placed team across both groups, will then qualify for a new 'Super 7' round. The top four teams from the Super 7s will advance to the semi-finals.

New Cricket World Cup Format

• Round One: Teams 12, 13, 14 in round-robin 'Super Series'
• Top team progresses to Round Two
• Round Two: Two groups of six teams (30 matches)
• Top three teams in each group plus next best across both qualify
• Round 3: Super 7 – Round robin (21 matches)
• Top four teams progress to semi-finals
• Semi-finals
• Final

An ICC statement read: "The structure has been designed to strengthen the competitive narrative across every stage of the event, with matches from Round 1 and Round 2 carrying higher consequence with a highly competitive Super 7 stage witnessing 7 qualifying teams going through a round-robin stage to qualify for the semi-finals.

"The increased consequence and enhanced competitive intensity promises to enhance the overall experience for fans while continuing to provide emerging teams with the opportunity to compete on cricket's biggest stage."

An additional team in the round-robin phase increases the prospects of an extra match between India and Pakistan — by far the most lucrative fixture the sport has to offer and one the ICC is eager to facilitate at all times, given the rival boards' refusal to play each other in bilateral contests.

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Highlights of the first ODI at Edgbaston as India beat England by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

What's Changing for the T20 World Cup?

Format changes are also in store for the next edition of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2028.

While 20 nations will still be involved from the outset, the number of teams competing in the second stage will increase from eight to 10, with that stage renamed Super 10.

New T20 World Cup Format

• Group Stage: Five groups of four teams (30 matches)
• Two teams from each group progress
• Super 10: Two groups of five (20 matches)
• Top team in each group qualifies for semi-finals
• Eliminators: Decide final two semi-final places
• Second-placed teams in Super 10 groups vs third-placed from opposite group
• Semi-finals
• Finals

In a further twist, while the top team in each of the two Super 10 groups will progress directly to the semi-finals, the teams placed second will each play a new 'Eliminator' match against the third-placed team in the opposite group to determine the remaining two final-four places.

"This promises to expand the representation of cricket's emerging nations in the Super 10 stage while also delivering higher competitive standards," said the ICC.

"The addition of 'eliminators' where the second and third ranked teams from groups in the Super 10 stage compete against each other for spots in the semi-finals also then adds significant consequence to the closing matches of the Super 10 stage."