17 Jul 2026 in News, News & Media
The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) is concerned by the ICC’s announcement regarding the revised format for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and believes it raises important questions about transparency, consultation and the game’s long-term commitment to global growth.
In 2021, the ICC announced that the Men’s ODI World Cup would expand from 10 to 14 teams from 2027, with all 14 teams originally scheduled to participate in two groups of seven. That commitment informed qualification pathways, investment decisions and planning across the game over a number of years.
While WCA welcomes the retention of 14 participating teams, this week’s ICC announcement fundamentally changes the opportunity that was originally presented, introducing a preliminary qualifying stage within the tournament itself for the three lowest-ranked qualified teams.
WCA’s concerns centre on several key areas.
WCA CEO Tom Moffat said:
“The ICC is entitled to determine the structure of its global events. However, when commitments are made to the game, qualification pathways are established and countries and players invest years pursuing those opportunities, significant changes deserve genuine consultation, transparency and a clear explanation.”
“For many players, qualifying for an ODI World Cup can be the pinnacle of a career. Players make significant professional and personal commitments in pursuit of that opportunity. To spend years working towards a clearly understood pathway, only to see that materially change within a cycle, has real consequences.”
“It is difficult to reconcile the game’s stated ambition of growing cricket globally with decisions that reduce meaningful opportunities at pinnacle events for some of the countries that stood to benefit most from genuine expansion.”
“Across global sport, the long-term trend has been towards broader participation, stronger stakeholder engagement and greater certainty including around major events. Cricket has an opportunity to embrace those same principles and ensure its major events continue to strengthen the global game.”
“This isn’t simply about the format of one tournament. It’s about ensuring game wide confidence in how the game makes major strategic decisions. As highlighted in WCA’s Global Game Structure Report, completed following extensive consultation across the game, there is broad recognition that cricket has extraordinary opportunities ahead through greater global alignment.”
“Realising those opportunities requires greater transparency, modern leadership and meaningful collaboration and engagement between all stakeholders, including with the people who make cricket what it is. We continue to urge the ICC and its members to do so.”
Dutch Men’s Captain, Scott Edwards said:
” Qualifying for an ODI World Cup is a huge achievement for any country, so when the reality of that opportunity changes after years of planning, it’s incredibly disappointing. The ICC talks a lot about growing the game globally but decisions like this make it harder for associate nations to play against the best teams in the world. Those opportunities are what helps countries improve and inspires the next generation of players. If we’re serious about making cricket a global sport, we should be creating more opportunities on the global stage not less.”
Namibian Men’s Captain, Gerhard Erasmus said:
“For players in many countries, an ODI World Cup isn’t just another tournament, it’s our long form and something careers are built around and generations of players aspire to. We all accept that you have to earn the right to be there, but we also want qualification to provide a real opportunity to compete on the biggest stage. This follows a long history of limited opportunity at associate level.”
Ireland Men’s Captain, Paul Stirling said:
“The smaller and associate countries have consistently proven to add value and interest at global events. The football World Cup we’ve just witnessed is testament to that in other sports and it would be great to see cricket take a similar approach to maximise opportunities for the game.”
Scotland Men’s Captain, Richie Berrington said:
“Players don’t expect to make every decision, but we should be meaningfully consulted on decisions that have significant impacts on the game and on players’ careers. Better decisions are made when different perspectives are brought to the table, and we’re urging the game to start doing that properly.”
US player, Harmeet Singh said:
“Countries, and players invest years preparing for opportunities like an ODI World Cup. Those opportunities mean a lot, not just for the players involved but for growing the game in emerging countries and for the fans who invest in the game. That’s why decisions like these matter well beyond one tournament.”
New Zealand player, Daryl Mitchell said:
“We are fully supportive of players and countries around the world being provided with consistent and fair opportunities to reach and compete on the game’s biggest platforms.”
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About the World Cricketers’ Association
The World Cricketers’ Association is the global players body in cricket. WCA collectively represents the players across the majority of top cricket playing countries at global level through their domestic players’ associations, and with over 700 international players participating in its global commercial program.
For media enquiries please contact Rebecca Chitty, +61411 407 776 or media@theworldca.com
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