The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a new format for the 2027 Men’s One-Day International World Cup. The changes could increase the chances of another Pakistan-India clash. The tournament will still feature 14 participating teams. However, the revised structure changes how teams qualify and progress, making every match more important.
The updated format aims to keep the tournament highly competitive from the opening match. It also creates a tougher route to the knockout stage. As a result, teams will have fewer chances to recover from poor performances. Every victory will carry greater value throughout the competition.
New World Cup structure
Under the new system, the three lowest-ranked qualifying teams will first compete in a preliminary round. Only one team will advance to the main tournament. The remaining 12 qualified teams will automatically enter the group stage. This change is designed to improve the overall quality of competition.
The main tournament will feature two groups of six teams each. After the group stage, the competition will move into a newly introduced Super Seven phase. This replaces the previous Super Six format. Consequently, fans can expect more matches between leading cricket nations before the knockout stage.
Pakistan-India rivalry gains more importance
The ICC has also removed the quarter-final stage from the tournament. Instead, teams will play through a longer and more competitive round-robin phase. This increases the possibility of Pakistan and India meeting more than once. Such a scenario would add even more excitement to the tournament.
Pakistan and India currently meet only in ICC events because bilateral cricket remains suspended. Their last bilateral series took place in 2006 when India toured Pakistan. Since then, every ICC meeting has attracted huge global audiences. These matches also generate significant commercial and broadcasting revenue.
The ICC believes the revised format will create stronger competition throughout the tournament. It expects every match to have greater importance for qualification. The governing body also hopes the new structure will deliver more memorable contests. Fans are likely to enjoy a more competitive World Cup.
2028 T20 World Cup also updated
The ICC has also approved changes for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup. The tournament will continue with 20 participating teams. However, 10 teams will now advance from the group stage instead of eight. The top two teams in the Super Ten round will qualify directly for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the remaining two semi-final spots will be decided through a newly introduced eliminator stage. This change adds another competitive phase to the tournament. Overall, the ICC expects both revised formats to produce higher-quality cricket. The governing body also hopes the changes will keep fans engaged throughout both global events.
