Dubai, Nov 11: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has shelved its plan to introduce a two-tier World Test Championship (WTC) system after failing to gain consensus among member nations. Instead, the next WTC cycle, beginning in 2027, is expected to include all 12 Full Member nations in a single division.
The decision follows recommendations made by a working group headed by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, which presented its report during the ICC’s quarterly meetings in Dubai last week. The group was tasked with addressing pressing challenges across cricket’s three formats as countries began scheduling bilateral series for the 2027–29 WTC cycle.
The proposed two-tier WTC model, which has resurfaced in discussions for over a decade, was aimed at introducing promotion and relegation to make the competition more structured. However, financial and logistical hurdles led to its collapse. A major sticking point was the inability to establish a funding model where the ‘big three’ — India, England, and Australia — would help support teams in the lower division.
Boards of countries like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan opposed the system, citing fears of reduced playing opportunities against top-ranked sides. The top nations, on the other hand, expressed concerns over the financial blow that relegation could bring. “We wouldn’t want, as England, to fall into Division Two and stop playing Australia and India,” ECB chief Richard Thompson had remarked earlier this year.
Under the revised proposal, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland are likely to be added to an expanded 12-team WTC. Each team will play a minimum number of Tests per cycle, though the exact figure is yet to be finalised. While the expansion ensures greater inclusivity in Test cricket, no additional financial support has been earmarked for hosting matches — a continuing challenge for smaller members such as Ireland.
“It guarantees that everyone plays Test cricket,” an ICC board director told ESPNcricinfo. “Those who genuinely value the format now have a clear pathway.”
Meanwhile, discussions around reviving the ODI Super League have gathered momentum. The 13-team tournament, originally launched in 2020 to give more context to the 50-over format, was discontinued after the 2023 World Cup due to calendar congestion. Its potential return, possibly from 2028, has been welcomed by smaller Full Members and Associates who viewed the competition as crucial for their development.“The Super League could breathe new life into ODI cricket,” said one administrator. “The issue was never the format itself, but how it was structured.”
The next 50-over World Cup, set for 2027, will continue with 14 teams, while the T20 World Cup is likely to remain a 20-team event despite calls from some boards to expand it further to 24 or even 32 teams in the long term.
Associate nations have also proposed a revamped T20 World Cup qualification process, featuring a global qualifier similar to Olympic models. This would include both Associate members and lower-ranked Full Members, ensuring fairer qualification and increased revenue opportunities.
However, the ICC remains firm on not recognising the rapidly growing T10 format as an official international competition. These key proposals — including the WTC expansion, ODI Super League revival, and qualification reforms — are expected to be discussed further during the ICC’s next board meeting early next year. (Agencies)
