All 12 full members likely to feature in next WTC cycle

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is weighing plans to expand the World Test Championship (WTC) to include all 12 full members in one division and potentially reviving the One Day International (ODI) Super League in the coming years.

According to Cricinfo, the next WTC cycle is likely to feature all 12 full members in a single division after plans to split nations into two tiers failed to gain widespread support.

A working group led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose presented recommendations to the ICC Board and Chief Executives' Committee during recent meetings in Dubai, as member nations have already begun planning bilateral series for the 2027–29 WTC cycle. 

The proposed two-tier system was abandoned due to disagreements over funding and concerns among lower-ranked teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan about limited opportunities to face top nations, while major boards such as India, England, and Australia opposed the risk of relegation.

Instead, the working group has suggested a 12-team WTC that would include Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, ensuring that all Full Members play Test cricket during the next cycle, though the number of matches each team will play is yet to be decided.

In addition, the ICC is exploring the revival of the ODI Super League, which was scrapped after the 2023 World Cup but could return from 2028 to bring more structure to the 50-over format. 

The T20 World Cup is set to remain a 20-team tournament, with potential expansion in the future, and Associate Members have proposed a new global qualifier system, similar to Olympic pathways, to improve fairness and revenue generation. These proposals will be further discussed at the next ICC meetings scheduled for early next year.