SOUTH AFRICA : The 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will technically feature 14 teams, marking an increase from the 10-team editions held in 2019 and 2023. However, under the revised format, the tournament will begin with a three-team round-robin “Super Series” involving the lowest-ranked qualifiers. Two teams from this opening stage will be eliminated after playing only two matches each.

The decision has angered several leading Associate nations, who are most likely to be affected by the change. Players have also questioned the relevance of the ongoing Cricket World Cup League 2, where eight Associate teams are required to play 36 matches each only to earn a place in the global qualifier.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards expressed disappointment over the late change, saying that qualifying for an ODI World Cup is a major achievement and that altering the opportunity after years of planning was deeply frustrating. The Netherlands had qualified for the 2023 World Cup ahead of Ireland, Zimbabwe and West Indies, and recorded major wins over South Africa and Bangladesh. Despite that success, they have not played an ODI against a full-member nation since.

The World Cricketers’ Association also criticised the ICC’s decision-making process, citing a lack of transparency, communication and consultation. Its chief executive Tom Moffat said the move was difficult to reconcile with the ICC’s stated ambition of growing cricket globally.

When the ICC announced the expansion to a 14-team World Cup five years ago, the expected format involved two groups of seven teams followed by a Super Six stage. Teams had planned for that structure throughout the qualification cycle, only to learn 15 months before the tournament that the format would be significantly changed.

Several Associate players have spoken out against the decision, including Scotland’s George Munsey and Netherlands players Max O’Dowd and Logan van Beek. Ireland ODI captain Paul Stirling also pointed to the ongoing 48-team FIFA World Cup as an example of how global tournaments can create value and interest by giving more opportunities to emerging sporting nations.

The ICC, however, defended the revised format, saying it would create a more compelling tournament, enhance the overall fan experience and continue to provide emerging teams with the chance to compete on cricket’s biggest stage.

Cricket’s governing body has long maintained that T20 cricket, rather than the 50-over format, is the key vehicle for global growth, a view reflected in the recent expansion of the men’s T20 World Cup to 20 teams. But for Associate nations hoping to build visibility in the ODI game, the latest World Cup format change has raised fresh concerns over fairness, opportunity and cricket’s global ambitions.

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