ICC revamps 2027 ODI World Cup format, opening door to extra Pakistan-India match

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council has approved a new format for the men’s 2027 one-day international World Cup that could increase the chances of Pakistan and India meeting more than once during the tournament.

According to the ICC’s announcement on Wednesday, next year’s World Cup in southern Africa will still feature 14 teams. However, under the revised structure, the three lowest-ranked qualifying teams will first play in a preliminary stage, with only one of them advancing to the main phase of the competition.

The main round will now consist of 12 teams divided into two groups of six. The ICC has also decided to replace the earlier super six round with a super seven stage.

The revised setup does away with quarter-finals, removing an additional knockout round from the event. At the same time, the larger round-robin phase means there is a greater possibility of an extra contest between Pakistan and India, the two biggest rivals in international cricket.

Commercial significance of Pakistan-India fixture

A Pakistan-India match remains the most commercially valuable fixture in world cricket because of the game’s enormous following across the subcontinent and the substantial broadcast and sponsorship income it brings to the ICC.

The two sides no longer play bilateral cricket outside global events because political tensions between the neighbouring countries have effectively prevented such series under their respective governments’ positions. India’s last bilateral tour of Pakistan came in 2006, when it played both Test and ODI series.

Explaining the changes, the ICC said in a statement:

creates greater context, competitiveness and consequence during the event.

T20 World Cup changes also approved

The ICC also cleared another format adjustment at its recent board meeting in Edinburgh concerning the next men’s T20 World Cup in 2028.

That tournament will continue as a 20-team event, but 10 teams rather than eight will progress from the group stage. Under the new structure, the top two teams in the super 10 phase will move directly into the semi-finals.

A new eliminator stage will then determine the remaining two semi-finalists, adding another layer to the knockout route in the T20 competition.