The two-tier World Test Championship model has been scrapped, and plans are underway to reintroduce the ODI Super League

The two-tier World Test Championship model has been scrapped, and plans are underway to reintroduce the ODI Super League

WTC 2027: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to keep the World Test Championship (WTC) as a single-tier competition featuring all 12 Test-playing nations starting from the 2027 cycle.

The next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, starting in July 2027, is expected to feature all 12 Full Member nations in a single group. Plans to split teams into two tiers didn’t get enough support, mainly because smaller teams feared fewer chances to play against top sides like India, England, and Australia.

A working group led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose presented its suggestions to the ICC board and Chief Executives’ Committee during recent meetings in Dubai. With countries already planning their bilateral series for the 2027–29 cycle, there was pressure to finalise the structure soon.

The idea of a two-tier WTC has been discussed for years, but it faced several roadblocks. One major issue was funding—there were talks of the big three financially supporting the lower division, but those discussions didn’t progress. Teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan opposed the idea, fearing they’d miss out on playing top teams. Promotion and relegation also raised concerns, especially for the big teams worried about losing revenue if they dropped to Division Two.

Instead, the new proposal includes all 12 Full Members, with Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland potentially joining the main WTC league. Each team will need to play a minimum number of Tests, though the exact number hasn’t been decided. However, no extra money will be provided to help host these matches, which could be tough for teams like Ireland.

One ICC board member said this setup ensures every team gets to play Test cricket, and it encourages more countries to invest in the format.

There’s also talk of bringing back the ODI Super League, which was scrapped after the 2023 World Cup. The league, launched in 2020, aimed to give more meaning to 50-over matches but was dropped due to a packed cricket calendar. Smaller nations and Associate members were disappointed by its removal. If revived, the league could return in 2028, though it’s unclear how many teams will be involved.

An ICC official said the Super League could help bring life back to the 50-over format, which isn’t dead but needs better structure.

For World Cups, the 50-over tournament will feature 14 teams in 2027, up from just 10 in the last two editions. The T20 World Cup will stay at 20 teams for now, although some officials want to gradually expand it to 32 teams in the future.

Associate nations have suggested changes to the T20 World Cup qualifying system. They want a global qualifier similar to Olympic-style formats where both Associates and lower-ranked Full Members compete for final spots. This could help raise money for smaller teams and give more chances to Asian nations who feel the current regional system is unfair.

The hope is to include this global qualifier in the 2028 T20 World Cup pathway.

Meanwhile, the fast-paced T10 format, despite growing popularity and support from some leagues, won’t be made official by the ICC.