ICC to Bring Back ODI Super League, Add 3 New Teams to World Test Championship | Reports

The ICC has decided to expand the World Test Championship to 12 teams for the 2027–29 cycle, adding Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland.

The ICC is set to expand the World Test Championship (WTC) to include all 12 Full Member nations in a single division for the 2027–29 cycle, abandoning the proposed two-tier format. The decision follows a working group review led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose. The group presented its findings at the ICC’s recent meetings in Dubai.

Plans for a split WTC structure were dropped after several boards, including those of the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, opposed the move over concerns about reduced playing opportunities and financial strain. The “big three” boards, India, England, and Australia, also expressed concerns about the economic impact.

The expanded format will see Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland join the WTC for the first time. Each team required to play a minimum number of Tests per cycle. However, smaller nations are unlikely to receive extra financial support for hosting matches. The upcoming cycle of the revamped WTC is expected to begin in July 2027.

Alongside the WTC discussions, the ICC is also considering reviving the ODI Super League. This could once again determine qualification for the 50-over World Cup.

Proposal Submitted to Introduce Global Qualifier for 2028 T20 Cycle

Associate Members have also proposed a major overhaul of the T20 World Cup qualification pathway. The new model is inspired by Olympic-style qualifying systems. This would introduce a single global qualifying event to decide the remaining tournament berths. Competition would include both Associate nations and Full Members that fail to qualify automatically through rankings.

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Proponents believe this event could generate new revenue for Associates. This will also address concerns from Asian boards that regional qualifiers restrict their World Cup access. The proposal targets implementation for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle.

Despite growing interest in the fast-paced T10 format and its popularity in global leagues, the ICC has no plans to officially sanction the 90-minute version yet. All related discussions are expected to continue in early 2026 when the ICC Board reconvenes.