ICC Revamps 2027 Cricket World Cup Format, Could Set Up Extra India-Pakistan Clash
- ICC approves a new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- The revised structure increases the possibility of an additional India-Pakistan match.
- New tournament format replaces the Super Six stage with a Super Seven round.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a new format for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, introducing structural changes that could increase the chances of an additional blockbuster clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.
The 2027 tournament, to be hosted in southern Africa, will continue to feature 14 teams. However, the three lowest-ranked qualified teams will first compete in a preliminary stage, with only one side advancing to the main tournament.
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The main competition will now consist of 12 teams divided into two groups of six. After the group stage, the tournament will move into a newly introduced Super Seven phase, replacing the previous Super Six format.
Unlike earlier editions, the revamped tournament will not include quarter-finals. Instead, the competition will progress directly from the Super Seven stage to the semi-finals, reducing the number of knockout matches.
The expanded round-robin phase significantly increases the likelihood of India and Pakistan meeting more than once during the tournament. Given the immense global interest in their rivalry, an additional fixture would be a major commercial boost for the ICC through television audiences, sponsorships, and broadcasting revenue.
Due to longstanding political tensions, India and Pakistan no longer play bilateral cricket. Their encounters are now limited to ICC tournaments and multi-nation events. India last toured Pakistan for a bilateral Test and ODI series in 2006.
Explaining the changes, the ICC said the revised World Cup format is designed to create “greater context, competitiveness and consequence” throughout the tournament.
The ICC also confirmed changes to the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup. The event will remain a 20-team competition, but 10 teams will advance from the group stage instead of eight. The top two teams in the Super 10 stage will qualify directly for the semi-finals, while the remaining four teams will compete in a new eliminator round to determine the other two semi-finalists.
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