The International Cricket Council (ICC) has overhauled the formats for the men’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa and the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. These changes introduce a preliminary round for the ODI event and a “Super 10” stage for the T20 tournament to increase competitiveness and commercial viability, according to official ICC announcements.
New ‘Super Seven’ Format for Southern Africa ODI World Cup
The ICC is moving away from the 10-team round-robin structure used in the 2023 tournament. The upcoming 50-over showpiece will now feature a first-round stage involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, with only one team advancing to the group stage.
The main group stage will consist of two pools of six teams. From there, the competition shifts to a “Super Seven” round-robin phase. This stage includes the top three teams from each pool and the next best team across both groups. The top four teams from this Super Seven phase will advance directly to the semi-finals.
Did you know? The expanded round-robin phase increases the likelihood of a match between India and Pakistan. The ICC views this as the most lucrative fixture in the sport, especially since the two boards avoid bilateral contests.
The governing body stated that this revamped structure “creates greater context, competitiveness and consequence during the event.”
T20 World Cup 2028: ‘Super 10’ and Eliminator Stage
The 2028 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will maintain a 20-team field but change how teams progress. Instead of the four groups of five used in 2026, the 2028 event will feature five groups of four teams. The top two from each group will advance to a “Super 10” stage, split into two groups of five.
The ICC cited the “performance of emerging teams” in recent tournaments as the reason for increasing the number of teams in the second round. This move is intended to expand the representation of emerging nations while maintaining high competitive standards.
The path to the final now includes a new eliminator stage. While the top team from each Super 10 group secures an automatic semi-final spot, the second-placed team from one group will play the third-placed team from the other. The ICC claims this reduces “dead-rubbers” and adds consequence to the closing matches of the Super 10 phase.
Venue Selection and Qualification Pathways for 2028
Joel Morrison, CEO of the 2028 T20 World Cup, confirmed that 14 venues are currently vying for hosting rights. The tournament will eventually utilize between eight and ten venues, with the final cities to be confirmed in mid-October.
Qualification for 2028 has already begun for several nations. Twelve teams are already secured, including co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, along with England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Ireland.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the “marquee” global qualifier. Eight teams from regional qualifiers will join Canada, Italy, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, UAE, and USA in a 16-team event to fight for the final spots.
Scotland must now begin its qualification journey from the European tournament. The ICC noted that the final qualification pathway remains subject to “minimum performance criteria” and awaits final approval at the November board meetings.
Comparison of Tournament Structure Changes
| Tournament | Previous Format | New Format |
|---|---|---|
| ODI World Cup | 10-team round-robin | Preliminary round $rightarrow$ 2 pools of 6 $rightarrow$ Super Seven |
| T20 World Cup | 4 groups of 5 $rightarrow$ 8 teams advance | 5 groups of 4 $rightarrow$ Super 10 $rightarrow$ Eliminators |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams have already qualified for the 2028 T20 World Cup?
Australia, New Zealand, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Ireland.
How many teams will play in the 2028 T20 World Cup?
The tournament will remain a 20-team event.
What is the ‘Super Seven’ in the ODI World Cup?
It is a round-robin stage consisting of the top three teams from two group pools plus the next best overall team, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
Do you think the new ‘Super Seven’ and ‘Super 10’ formats make the World Cups more exciting? Let us know in the comments or subscribe to our newsletter for more cricket updates.
Keep reading
