Dubai, July 27: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a major expansion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the tournament expected to grow from 20 to 24 teams as part of a long-term strategy to broaden the sport’s global reach.
According to reports, the expanded format is likely to be introduced by the 2032 edition, although the ICC is also exploring the possibility of implementing it as early as the 2030 tournament. The move is viewed as a significant step towards the governing body’s ultimate ambition of staging a 32-team T20 World Cup in the future.
The proposal follows encouraging performances from emerging cricketing nations during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where several Associate teams demonstrated their growing competitiveness. Zimbabwe recorded memorable victories over Australia and Sri Lanka, while Nepal and Italy pushed established sides with spirited displays, strengthening the case for greater representation at cricket’s premier global event.
The ICC believes increasing the number of participating teams will accelerate the game’s development by providing more exposure and competitive opportunities for developing nations without compromising the tournament’s commercial appeal.
The 2028 T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is expected to serve as a transitional phase. It will feature five groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to a Super 10 stage before the knockout rounds.
Should the competition expand to 24 teams, the most likely format would comprise six groups of four, followed by a Super 12 stage involving the top two teams from each group. The leading sides would then progress to the semi-finals and final.
The revised structure would not only increase the number of participating nations but also ensure that leading cricketing powers, particularly commercially significant markets such as India, continue to play a substantial number of matches during the tournament.
Based on the current T20 International rankings, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Italy and Hong Kong would stand to benefit immediately from an expansion to 24 teams. Other emerging cricket nations, including the United States, Canada, Nepal and Nigeria, are also expected to gain greater opportunities, while Germany has been identified as another market with significant growth potential following a surge in the sport’s popularity.
The proposed expansion comes amid criticism of the ICC’s decision to reduce the number of teams in the main stage of next year’s 50-over World Cup from the previously planned 14 to 12. The move drew criticism from Associate members, many of whom claimed they were not consulted before the revised format was approved during the ICC Annual Conference earlier this month.
The World Cricketers’ Association also questioned the decision, arguing that reducing opportunities in one format appeared inconsistent with cricket’s stated ambition of expanding its global footprint. (Agencies)
