ICC reveals bigger 2027 World Cup format and new cricket playing rules

The International Cricket Council is releasing the schedule and format for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Australia enters the upcoming tournament to defend the title.

Tournament Changes

The tournament will expand from 10 teams in the previous edition to 14 teams, featuring 57 matches spread across 12 venues. A new three-stage competition format starts with a Super Series where the 12th, 13th, and 14th ranked teams play a round-robin to send just one winner forward. That winner joins 11 other qualified nations in two groups of six teams for 30 matches. The top three teams from each group, plus the next highest-placed team overall, move to a new Super 7 stage of 21 matches before the semifinals and final.

Rule Changes

Beyond the World Cup details, the ICC introduced new playing conditions for Test matches and limited-over games. Pink balls may now be used in daytime Tests by mutual agreement between teams to reduce lost playing time from bad light, but the choice is locked in before the match and cannot be changed. Additionally, batters who waste time will get warnings for the first two offenses, followed by a five-run penalty awarded to the fielding side for a third offense.

Context

Expanding major cricket tournaments allows more countries from Associate and lower-ranked Full Member nations to play on the global stage, increasing the sport's reach. Meanwhile, new on-field rules like time-wasting penalties and pink-ball trials reflect the sport's ongoing efforts to speed up over rates and counter bad light disruptions in Test cricket.