New Delhi: In a significant development that underscores the power dynamics in world cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been forced to shelve its plans for new multilateral tournaments until at least 2031. The decision follows stiff resistance from the sport’s “Big Three” boards—the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA), and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
According to recent reports, the apex body’s ambition to boost revenue through new cricketing properties has effectively been put on ice. The ICC Cricket Operations Workshop, recently held in Dubai, concluded after months of deliberations without passing any proposals for fresh tournaments.
The initial push for expansion was reportedly based on a strategic roadmap prepared by the American consultancy firm, McKinsey & Company. The proposal pitched several lucrative concepts, most notably a T20 World Club Championship involving top franchise teams and exclusive four-nation T20 tournaments to be played during vacant calendar windows.
However, representatives from India, Australia, and England firmly rejected the proposals, citing an already oversaturated international calendar. The powerful trio argued that forcing new fixtures into the players’ gruelling schedules was practically impossible. They reportedly made it clear to the governing body that accommodating any new multilateral tournament would require trimming existing marquee events like the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, or the Champions Trophy—a compromise the boards are unwilling to make.
While the new white-ball tournaments have been blocked, the longer format is set for a structural boost. Reports indicate that the only major change in the upcoming Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle will be the expansion of the World Test Championship (WTC). The ICC is expected to increase the WTC pool from 9 to 12 teams, opening the doors for Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe to join the next championship cycle. However, an official proposal regarding this expansion is yet to be formally distributed to member boards.
Meanwhile, the Big Three have reportedly locked in their lucrative bilateral commitments up to 2031. High-profile upcoming fixtures include the 2027 Ashes in England, which will kick off the subsequent WTC cycle. Furthermore, England is slated to tour India for a five-match Test series in early 2028, with the Indian team scheduled for a reciprocal five-Test tour of England in the summer of 2029.