The International Cricket Council will not introduce a World Club Championship or new international multilateral tournaments until 2031 at the earliest due to strong resistance from England, Australia, and India, The Guardian reported. Following months of informal discussions, a cricket operations workshop held in Dubai concluded without any additional events being proposed, ensuring the next Future Tours Programme covering 2027 to 2031 will mirror the current cycle.
Dubai Workshop Concludes Without New Tournament Proposals
The decision to halt new multilateral concepts emerged after a cricket operations workshop in Dubai brought together member boards and ICC officials. While the organization remains eager to explore new competitions to grow the sport and boost revenues, the so-called Big Three boards blocked any expansion of the calendar. One source involved in the discussions described the proposed concepts as an ICC landgrab, noting there is no appetite among the dominant boards for additional events.
India generates about 70 percent of cricket’s global revenue, placing the nation in a unique position of financial influence. Disney Star paid $3.1 billion for the ICC’s rights in India between 2024 and 2027, though that broadcaster has since merged with Viacom18 to create JioStar. This merger removed competition from the market, fueling ICC concerns that media rights values could fall significantly from next year.
Major Nations Reject New Cricket Fixtures
England, Australia, and India remain adamant that no space exists in the international calendar for additional fixtures unless the ICC removes existing tournaments such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy. That removal has not been discussed by officials. Despite resistance from the major nations, one source conceded there was distinct interest from smaller cricket-playing nations regarding the proposed competitions.
The rejected concepts floated by the ICC included a World Club Championship and a series of four-team T20 competitions for international sides during dedicated windows. The governing body also explored the possibility of staging quadrangular tournaments to replace the declining popularity of traditional triangular formats. However, England, Australia, and India have already locked in bilateral schedules involving each other until 2031, leaving no room for the ICC’s proposed additions.
Future Tours Programme Locked Until 2031
With the current schedule preserved, the next Future Tours Programme will match the existing cycle. The singular expected change is the expansion of the World Test Championship to 12 teams starting next year, which will incorporate Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. The ICC has yet to issue finalized plans regarding this expansion to its members.
Bilateral fixtures proceed as planned across the calendar. The Ashes takes place in England next summer as the opening series of the next World Test Championship cycle, followed by an England tour of Australia in 2029-30. England has also agreed to travel to India for a five-Test series in early 2028 before hosting them in 2029.
McKinsey Report Addresses Falling Broadcast Revenues
Many of the ideas for new competitions originated from a strategic review conducted by US consultants McKinsey. The full report will be presented to ICC members at the next quarterly meeting in Bali. The strategic review itself was commissioned because of ICC concerns that future media rights values will drop significantly.
The ICC sells its broadcast rights on a regional basis across 11 different territories. However, the Indian deal contributes the vast majority of the organization’s $3.5 billion global broadcast revenues and cannot be easily replaced from alternative markets. The next TV rights auction covers the period from 2028 to 2032, featuring two T20 World Cups, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 50-over World Cup.
Did you know?
India generates approximately 70% of global cricket revenue, largely driven by massive broadcast deals in the region that dwarf earnings from other territories.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Future Tours Programme
When will the next Future Tours Programme take effect?
The upcoming Future Tours Programme covers the cycle from 2027 to 2031 and will mirror the structure of the current schedule.
Which teams are expected to join an expanded World Test Championship?
Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe are slated to join the World Test Championship next year, expanding the competition to 12 teams pending finalized ICC plans.
How much did Disney Star pay for ICC broadcast rights in India?
Disney Star paid $3.1 billion for the ICC’s broadcast rights in India for the 2024 to 2027 cycle before merging with Viacom18 to form JioStar.
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