ICC Cricket World Cup to revert to Super Six format and have more teams? Details emerge in ICC meeting

The International Cricket Council is currently conducting a meeting discussing the roadmap for the game in the coming months. However, one development could see the marquee World Cup getting a massive change. According to a report in Telegraph Sport, the men’s ODI World Cup could include 14 teams from the 2027 edition. The concept of 10 teams has not gotten approval as it has not been conducive in expanding the sport. Currently, the 10-team Cricket World Cup format is used in 2019 and also in 2023. This format has given the Indian cricket team nine matches.

The decision might be given today. But the implementation for the Cricket World Cup might happen later in the year. The member boards are mapping out a global calendar for the 2023 to 2031 cycle. If reports are to be believed, there might be eight ICC events and not six. This means that the ICC Champions Trophy might not be scrapped.

More opportunities for emerging nations

The major issue is the number of opportunities given to the smaller cricketing nations. In 2011 and 2015, there were 14 teams. However, the group format and the straight knockout model did not benefit them. Rather, the 2003 World Cup format is seen as conducive to the opportunities for smaller nations.

In that edition in South Africa, Kenya benefited from New Zealand’s withdrawal and they reached the semi-final. Under the Super Sixes model, the 14 teams will be placed in two groups of top seven, each playing six group games. The top three teams in each pool would then progress to the Super Sixes stage, with sides carrying forward points from the first group stage. In the Super Sixes, teams would play the three other teams to qualify from the other group stage. The top four teams from the Super Sixes would then reach the semi-finals.

The ICC meeting might also decide the fate of the ICC World T20 2021 which will be hosted in India. The BCCI has sought an extension of one month from the ICC and has urged them to not take any decision with regards to shifting the ICC World T20. The coronavirus pandemic is currently showing low numbers in India but they are still in excess of 125,000 on a daily basis.