ICC mulls reducing 2027 ODI World Cup to 12 teams with new Super Seven format

Decision makers from the International Cricket Council (ICC) gathered in Edinburgh last week to examine pivotal questions about cricket's global landscape, with format restructures and competition frameworks at the centre of conversations between top officials.

The ICC is reportedly preparing for negotiations with broadcasters regarding fresh media arrangements and wants to ensure all formats stay competitive while maximising their commercial reach for global audiences.

The proposal on the table involves cutting the men's ODI World Cup field from 14 squads to 12, featuring a brand-new 'super seven' second round, according to BBC Sport. The 2027 tournament, co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, could be the first to feature this restructured format, fundamentally shifting how cricket's biggest competition operates.

How would the qualification structure change under the ICC's 12-team plan?

Under this plan, only two teams would climb through the worldwide qualifiers instead of four, tightening pathways for smaller cricket nations seeking ODI World Cup berths. This reduction directly impacts the opportunities available to associate members competing in ICC regional and global qualifier events across multiple leagues and tournaments.

Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup could see its 'super eight' stage widen to accommodate ten teams, a shift aimed at keeping more nations in contention deeper into tournaments. The ICC believes these changes could generate more high-profile clashes between established teams, raising television appeal and fan interest across different regions.

What other tournament reforms is the ICC considering?

England, India and Australia have locked in their key fixtures for the Future Tours Programme running from 2027 to 2031, but the remaining full members must still resolve their schedules. An August meeting is scheduled to sort out remaining calendar conflicts, followed by a final checkpoint in September to lock everything down.

Furthermore, reducing the scope of ODI cricket to 40 overs per side from the current 50 overs was debated, but no changes are to be made. The one-day format, as a result, remains as is.

The World Test Championship could see semifinals introduced to boost engagement in the red-ball format. However, efforts to expand from nine to 12 teams remain stalled, with an ICC working group still developing expansion proposals that would include Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

A global Club T20 tournament bringing together champion franchises from domestic leagues worldwide is nearing reality. One insider suggested the event could launch within two years if calendar space becomes available, with a gathering of franchise leaders planned later this year to advance planning further.