Ravichandran Ashwin Advocates for Emerging Nations in ICC's New Formats

Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his support for the ICC's new fixture formats for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup, emphasizing the need for greater opportunities for emerging cricket nations. He believes that enhancing competitiveness is essential, but a stronger pathway for teams like the Netherlands and Scotland is crucial for the sport's global growth. The ICC has also announced updated tournament structures aimed at improving the competitive landscape and experience for fans and players alike. These changes promise to elevate the status of cricket on the world stage, especially in the context of the Olympics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 16, 2026, 11:14 IST

Ashwin Supports ICC's New Fixture Formats

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian cricketer, has expressed his support for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) updated fixture formats for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup. He emphasized the importance of providing more opportunities for emerging cricket nations to foster global growth of the sport.

In a post shared on X, Ashwin noted that while the new formats could enhance competitiveness, there is a pressing need to establish a stronger pathway for developing teams. He stated, "The ICC's modifications to the fixture format for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup are logical from a competitiveness perspective. However, to truly expand the game, we must create more opportunities for emerging nations like the Netherlands, Scotland, Nepal, the USA, and Ireland. These teams deserve more significant matches, such as being included as the third team in bilateral series, rather than just participating in qualification tournaments."

Ashwin further pointed out that the collective advancement of cricket is crucial for making the sport more appealing at the Olympics, concluding, "Let’s not forget, that collective growth will make this sport a spectacle at the Olympics."

ICC Unveils New Tournament Structures

Recently, the ICC Board wrapped up its annual meetings in Edinburgh, where it made decisions aimed at enhancing the prestige of its global events.

The Board, which includes representatives from associate nations, approved recommendations from the Chief Executives' Committee. These changes are designed to create more meaningful contests, elevate competitive standards, and improve the overall tournament experience for both athletes and fans, as stated in an ICC media release.

Additionally, the Board confirmed the qualification structure for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028, establishing a clear pathway for qualification through regional events and considering a marquee global competition for associate member nations.

Updated Format for 2027 ODI World Cup

The ICC Board has approved a revised competition format for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which will feature 14 participating teams while ensuring a more engaging tournament for players and spectators.

The new format will consist of a three-stage competition leading to the Finals, enhancing the significance and competitiveness of matches from the outset. The structure aims to strengthen the competitive narrative throughout the event, with matches in the initial rounds carrying greater importance.

The Super 7 stage will see seven qualifying teams compete in a round-robin format to secure spots in the semi-finals, promising an exciting experience for fans and providing emerging teams with a chance to shine on cricket's biggest stage.

Changes for the 2028 T20 World Cup

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup continues to serve as a platform for expanding the participation of cricketing nations in ICC's premier events.

Following the impressive performances of emerging teams in the 2026 tournament, the ICC has decided to increase the number of teams in the second stage from 8 to 10, while still allowing emerging teams to qualify for this stage. This change aims to enhance representation in the Super 10 stage and raise competitive standards.

The introduction of 'eliminators' will see the second and third-ranked teams from the Super 10 stage compete for semi-final spots, adding significant stakes to the concluding matches.

Qualification Pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup

For the qualification pathway of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028, Scotland will directly enter the Europe Regional Final, acknowledging its unique circumstances during the 2026 tournament.

Teams that participated in the 2026 T20 World Cup but did not achieve automatic qualification will move directly to the Global Qualifier.

The remaining eight spots in the Global Qualifier will be filled through regional qualifications, with two teams each from Africa, Asia, and Europe, and one team each from the Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions.

The highest-placed team from each region at the Global Qualifier, along with the next three highest-placed teams overall, will qualify for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028, subject to minimum performance criteria.

This new marquee tournament has received endorsement from the Board, following recommendations from the ICC Development and Chief Executives' Committees, and will be finalized after review by the ICC's Finance & Commercial Affairs committee in the upcoming November meetings.