ICC revises formats for men's ODI and T20 World Cups; winning trophy will be tougher

The International Cricket Council has officially approved a new tournament structure for its upcoming marquee global events. Announced during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the changes were ratified by the ICC Board following recommendations from the Chief Executives’ Committee. The modifications aim to elevate competitive standards, create more meaningful contests, and improve the tournament experience for both players and fans.

For the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, the tournament will maintain a 14-team field but will transition to a new three-stage competition format leading up to the finals. The restructuring is designed to strengthen the competitive structure of the 50-over flagship event while maintaining the overall team count.

Meanwhile, the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will retain its 20-team expansion. However, the second stage of the tournament will replace the previous Super 8 phase with a expanded Super 10 stage. This structural change is intended to increase representation and provide more opportunities for emerging teams in the latter stages of the tournament.