Cricket World Cup to revert to 14 teams from 2027
Last updated on: 01 June,2021 09:33 pm
The changes were announced as the ICC unveiled its global schedule of events from 2024-2031.
LONDON (AFP) - The men s Cricket World Cup will once again become a 14-team tournament in 2027 and 2031, the International Cricket Council said Tuesday.
The changes were announced as the ICC, cricket s global governing body, unveiled its global schedule of events from 2024-2031.
Meanwhile the Champions Trophy, a mini World Cup last staged in 2017, when Pakistan won in England, is to be revived as an eight-team event in 2025 and 2029.
Only 10 teams contested the 2019 World Cup, won by hosts England, compared to 14 four years earlier.
But a statement issued by the ICC board said: "The ICC Men s Cricket World Cup will become a 14 team, 54-match event in 2027 and 2031, whilst the ICC Men s T20 World Cup will be expanded to a 20 team, 55-match event in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030."
Reducing the number of sides involved in the 2011 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand to just 10 was a controversial decision by the ICC, with critics arguing it frustrated the global growth of the game.
Officials defended the move at the time by saying a streamlined format reduced the risk of mismatches and was preferred by broadcasters.