New three-stage format announced for 2027 ODI World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled a restructured tournament format for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, expanding the event from 10 to 14 teams. Co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, the flag-ship ODI tournament will feature a three-stage structure before heading into the knockouts.

The revised format introduces early elimination stages designed to maintain competitive stakes throughout the competition:

* Round 1 (Super Series): The tournament kicks off with a three-match round-robin among the lowest-ranked three qualified nations. Only the top-finishing side will earn passage into the main group stage.

* Round 2 (Group Stage): The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six for a 30-match round-robin stage. The top three teams from each group, along with the single best fourth-placed team across both groups, will move forward.

* Round 3 (Super 7): The top seven teams face off in a 21-match round-robin phase to determine the semi-finalists.

* Knockout Stage: The top four from the Super 7 stage advance to the semi-finals (#1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3), with the winners clashing for the World Cup trophy.

The new model replaces the single 10-team round-robin structure utilized in the 2019 and 2023 editions, striking a balance between offering broader global inclusion and keeping high-stakes pressure on top nations from the opening fixtures. (Newswire)

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