DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved significant changes to the formats of the Men’s ODI and T20 World Cups, aiming to make the tournaments more competitive and ensure that every match carries greater importance.
New 14-Team ODI World Cup Format
According to the ICC, the revamped 14-team Men’s ODI World Cup will feature a three-stage competition.
The tournament will begin with a “Super Series” involving the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th. The winner of this preliminary stage will advance to the second round.
In the second stage, 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. Following the group matches, a total of seven teams will qualify for the newly introduced “Super 7” stage. These will include the top three teams from each group along with the best-ranked remaining team.
During the Super 7 stage, all seven teams will compete against one another. The top four teams in the standings will then progress to the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the tournament final.
The ICC said the revised structure is designed to make every game meaningful from the opening match and to increase excitement throughout the tournament.
T20 World Cup to Introduce “Super 10”
The ICC has also approved changes to the 20-team Men’s T20 World Cup, replacing the current Super 8 stage with a new Super 10 format.
Under the new structure, the first round will divide the 20 participating teams into five groups. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 10 stage.
The Super 10 phase will consist of two groups of five teams each. The group winners will qualify directly for the semi-finals.
In a new addition to the tournament, the second- and third-placed teams from each Super 10 group will compete in eliminator matches. The winners of those eliminators will secure the remaining two semi-final spots.
New Tournament for Associate Nations
In another development, the ICC has approved the launch of a 16-team global T20 tournament for Associate Member nations, providing additional international competition and development opportunities for emerging cricket countries.
The governing body said the changes are intended to enhance the competitiveness of ICC events, create more high-stakes matches, and strengthen the global growth of the sport.
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