New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved sweeping changes to the formats of its premier men’s tournaments, introducing a new three stage structure for the 14 team ODI World Cup and a revamped Super 10 format for the T20 World Cup.
The changes were finalised during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh following recommendations from the Chief Executives’ Committee. According to the governing body, the revised formats are designed to create more meaningful matches, improve competitive balance and deliver a better experience for players and fans.
Under the new ODI World Cup format, the tournament will continue to feature 14 teams but will now begin with a preliminary Super Series involving the three lowest ranked teams. Only the winner of that stage will advance to the main competition.
The second phase will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six, with each group playing a round robin schedule. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best placed team overall, will qualify for a newly introduced Super 7 stage. In this round robin phase, the seven remaining teams will compete for four semifinal spots before the tournament concludes with the knockout rounds.
The ICC believes the new structure will increase the significance of every match while ensuring emerging nations continue to receive opportunities to compete on the global stage.
The T20 World Cup will also undergo major changes. The 20 team event will now begin with five groups of four teams instead of four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will progress to the new Super 10 stage, consisting of two groups of five teams.
Only the group winners in the Super 10 stage will qualify directly for the semifinals. Teams finishing second and third in each group will compete in crossover eliminators, with the winners claiming the remaining two semifinal berths.
The ICC has also outlined the qualification pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup, including direct entry for Scotland into the Europe Regional Final and revised qualification routes for other nations. The complete roadmap will undergo a final review by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee before receiving formal approval later this year.
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