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The next big cricket event is the ICC ODI World Cup 2027, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The tournament is less than 15 months away; as per the schedule, it is set to run from October 4 to November 21, 2027.
However, ahead of the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have changed the format of the tournament. Previously, it was discussed that 14 teams would be featuring in the World Cup, divided into two groups.
Now it has been reduced from 14 to 12, with associate nations getting fewer matches and the biggest countries playing even more matches. The ICC will not accept that it is no longer a 14-team tournament; instead, they will play 12 to 14 ranked teams in a “Super Series”, with one side qualifying for the main draw.
How the revised 2027 World Cup format could produce three India vs Pakistan matches?
As per the new rule, there will still be 14 teams. But this is now a 12-team competition, faking it as a 14-team tournament. In World Cups across every sport, all the participating nations enter the tournament at the same stage in the first round. However, in the upcoming Cricket World Cup, it will not be the same.
Now, as per the new format, India and Pakistan are expected to be in the same group during the Group Stage format (Round 2), where they will face each other, and once again, if both teams qualify for the next round, they will be able to play again in the Super 7, which is a round-robin format.
After that, if Pakistan plays good cricket and qualifies for the knockouts, they might yet again face the Men in Blue side in the semi-finals, with three matches possibly being played.
Why British media blamed the Indian market for the revised World Cup format?
The Telegraph has blamed India for controlling the ICC decisions, as India generates the largest share of global cricket broadcasting income; they will get more key matches, with one being India vs Pakistan, as they do not play bilateral matches; the games in ICC events have made them even more valuable and watched.
The extra matches given to India and other big nations in the World Cup will affect the smaller and emerging teams, as they will get fewer matches in the tournament.
However, as per the ICC, this new format will have "greater context, competitiveness and consequence during the event." However, this format is done to maximise the financial value and also to increase commercialisation of the game.
Under the previous format, the team could have played 11 games if they reached the final; now they will be able to play 13 games, which means India would have more matches and the apex body will be able to generate more broadcasting revenues, as India matches generate more revenue than any other matches, especially India vs Pakistan, which might happen thrice next year.
How Associate nations could lose out under the revised format?
Over the years, some of the associate nations have come out big in the different World Cups. They have shocked some of the big sides across the ODI and T20 tournaments. They have spent years of hard work to qualify for the mega event, and now they will have limited chances.
The smaller nations used to get six matches each, and now they will play only two matches and will also not be part of the main tournament as well. Many cricketers from the associate nations have complained and dread the new format of the game.
The new format will only lead to one nation from the associate nations qualifying for the ICC World Cup, as the other is Namibia, which is already the host and will be featuring. Apart from that, the reduced 12-team tournament will lack a sporting nature in the ICC events, as the two teams playing the last match of the Super Series will have an unfair advantage.
