The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved major changes to the ICC World Cup Format for both the ODI and T20 World Cups. The new structure is designed to make every match more competitive and exciting from the very beginning of each tournament.
For the 14-team Men’s ODI World Cup, the tournament will now begin with a “Super Series” featuring the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th. The winner of this stage will qualify for the second round, where 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six.
From the second stage, the top three teams from each group, along with the best-ranked remaining team, will advance to the new “Super 7” stage. After all seven teams play against each other, the top four will qualify for the semifinals.
The ICC said the revised format is intended to increase the importance of every match and improve the overall competitiveness of the tournament from the opening game.
The 20-team T20 World Cup will also see significant changes, with the “Super 8” stage being replaced by a new “Super 10” format. The teams will first be divided into five groups, with the top two from each group advancing. The winners of the two Super 10 groups will qualify directly for the semifinals, while the second- and third-placed teams will compete in eliminator matches for the remaining semifinal spots. In addition, the ICC has approved a separate 16-team global T20 tournament for Associate nations. The ICC World Cup Format aims to make future tournaments more competitive, engaging, and entertaining for cricket fans worldwide.