Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association have criticised the International Cricket Council for restructuring the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup format with less than 18 months until the tournament, citing insufficient communication and concerns about opportunities for emerging nations.
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association have expressed strong disapproval of format changes introduced by the International Cricket Council for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. The timing of the modifications, announced less than 18 months before the tournament is set to commence, prompted the two Associate Member boards to describe the ICC's approach as "disappointing and disrespectful."
Under the newly introduced Super Series phase, teams ranked 12th through 14th in the qualification process will compete in a tri-series tournament. Only one team will advance from this stage to the second round, where 12 teams will be divided into two competing groups. The Associate Members expressed particular concern about the reduced pathway for emerging cricket nations to participate meaningfully in the competition.
In a joint statement released on Monday, both boards emphasised that the format restructuring represents a setback for Associate Member cricket. They argued that limiting opportunities for developing nations contradicts cricket's stated expansion goals, stating: "At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message."
The 2027 World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Associate Members are ICC member nations that have not attained Full Member status, a designation reserved for cricket's most established and leading countries.
