The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, July 16: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has welcomed the International Cricket Council‘s (ICC) decision to introduce new competition formats for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup, saying the changes are likely to make global tournaments more competitive. At the same time, he stressed that the long-term growth of cricket depends on providing regular opportunities to emerging nations beyond qualification events.
Sharing his views on social media platform X, Ashwin said the revised tournament structures are a positive step towards raising the standard of competition. However, he argued that associate teams such as the Netherlands, Scotland, Nepal, the United States and Ireland require consistent exposure against stronger opposition to accelerate their development.
Ashwin suggested that these teams should be included more frequently in bilateral international series, proposing the addition of a third team to scheduled contests as one possible solution. According to him, meaningful international fixtures would contribute far more to their progress than relying solely on qualification tournaments.
He also pointed out that expanding the sport across more nations is essential if cricket is to make a lasting impact on the Olympic stage. Ashwin believes that wider global participation will help transform the game into a stronger international spectacle.
His remarks came shortly after the ICC Board approved significant changes to the formats of its two flagship men’s tournaments during its annual meetings in Edinburgh.
For the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the tournament will continue to feature 14 teams, but a redesigned three-phase structure will replace the previous format. The new system is intended to ensure every match carries greater significance, with teams progressing through two preliminary stages before a Super 7 round-robin phase, which will determine the four semi-finalists.
The ICC said the revised structure is designed to create more high-stakes contests throughout the tournament while still allowing emerging nations to compete on cricket’s biggest stage.
The 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will also undergo notable changes. The second phase of the competition will expand from eight teams to ten, allowing more nations to remain in contention deeper into the tournament. A new eliminator stage will also be introduced, with second- and third-placed teams competing for the remaining semi-final berths, adding further importance to the closing group matches.
The ICC Board also approved the qualification pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup. Scotland will receive direct entry into the Europe Regional Final due to exceptional circumstances related to its participation in the 2026 edition. Other teams from the 2026 tournament that did not qualify automatically will advance directly to the Global Qualifier, while the remaining spots will be filled through regional qualification events across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the East Asia-Pacific region.
In addition, the ICC endorsed plans for a new global tournament aimed at associate member nations. The proposal will undergo financial and commercial review before being placed before the Board for final approval later this year.
The governing body said the reforms are intended to improve competitive balance, increase the importance of every match and enhance the viewing experience while continuing to expand opportunities for developing cricket nations.
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