ODI World Cup to revert to 14-team Super Sixes format from 2027

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is set to revert to a 14-team format for the 2027 edition with a Super Six stage used in 2003, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The 10-team league format, which was used in the 2019 World Cup, will continue for the 2023 edition which is scheduled for October and November in India.

The format is being discussed at the ICC board meeting, starting on Tuesday. While the changes could be agreed this meeting, ultimate confirmation could well be delayed until later in the year, with the ICC and member countries currently mapping out the global calendar for 2023-31. There is also a growing expectation that boards will agree to eight ICC men's global events - rather than six - during the cycle, which would see a Champions Trophy style ODI competition.

ICC member nations have considered that the 14-team format used in 2011 and 2015, with two groups of seven and the top four sides progressing to the quarterfinals, as unsatisfactory because it did not produce enough high-stakes early in the competition.

The 14-team format with a Super Six is considered a better option as it creates more opportunities for emerging nations to qualify and ensures the stakes are high early in the group stages.

In the Super Sixes model, 14 teams would be placed in two groups of top seven, each playing six group games. The top three teams in each group would then move to the Super Sixes stage, where they will play the three other teams to qualify from the other group stage. Side also carry forward points from the first group stage. The top four teams from the Super Sixes would then reach the semifinals.

This format would see the total number of games in the World Cup would be 54, compared to 48 in 2019. The increase in the number of games would lead to more days with two games a day in the group stages.