The International Cricket Council will not introduce a World Club Championship or additional international multilateral tournaments until 2031 at the earliest, following sustained objections from England, Australia and India over fixture congestion.
A cricket operations workshop held in Dubai last week concluded without any new events being proposed for the sport's calendar. Consequently, the next iteration of the Future Tours Programme, which will govern international fixtures from 2027 to 2031, will remain largely unchanged from the current scheduling cycle.
The ICC had explored several new competition concepts during informal discussions with member boards over recent months, including a World Club Championship and a series of four-team T20 tournaments featuring international sides during additional windows. However, the three dominant cricket nations have made clear their opposition to calendar expansion without the removal of existing flagship events such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy—a scenario the ICC has not entertained.
Why are the Big Three blocking new tournaments?
England, Australia and India maintain there is insufficient space in the international calendar for additional competitions unless the ICC eliminates established tournaments. One source involved in the discussions characterised the ICC's proposals as an "ICC landgrab," while another acknowledged that smaller nations had expressed interest in new multilateral events, but that the Big Three showed no appetite for them.
The resistance reflects a broader tension between the ICC's commercial ambitions and the scheduling constraints faced by the sport's leading nations. India, in particular, generates approximately 70 per cent of global cricket revenue, giving it outsized influence over calendar decisions. The current Future Tours Programme cycle ends in March 2027, and discussions before the Dubai workshop included proposals for more T20 internationals and fewer bilateral ODIs, though these have not advanced.
What changes are planned for the World Test Championship?
The sole confirmed modification to the next FTP is the expansion of the World Test Championship to 12 teams beginning next year, incorporating Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe. The ICC has not yet released finalised details of this restructuring to its member boards.
Why is the ICC pushing for new competitions?
The ICC remains committed to exploring new tournaments as a means of growing the sport and generating additional revenue. This drive stems partly from concerns about the sustainability of the sport's media rights valuations. The Indian broadcast rights deal, which represents the bulk of the ICC's global revenues, is viewed as unsustainable in its current form.
Disney Star paid $3.1 billion for the ICC's rights in India between 2024 and 2027. However, Disney Star subsequently merged with Viacom 18 to form JioStar, eliminating competitive bidding in that market. While the ICC sells rights across 11 regional territories, the Indian deal accounts for the vast majority of its $3.5 billion in global broadcast revenues and cannot be offset by income from other regions.
Many of the new competition concepts under consideration originated from a strategic review conducted by the US consultancy McKinsey & Company. The full McKinsey report will be presented to ICC members at the next quarterly meeting in Bali next month. According to reports on the Bali meeting agenda, the ICC is expected to discuss new revenue opportunities including corporate sponsorship, mobile gaming and data monetisation.
What bilateral series are already locked in?
Although the FTP will not be finalised until next month's Bali meeting, England, Australia and India have already agreed bilateral schedules with each other through 2031. The Ashes will take place in England next summer, marking the opening series of the next World Test Championship cycle, followed by an Australian tour in 2029–30. England has committed to travelling to India for a five-Test series in early 2028 before hosting India in 2029.
The next FTP auction, covering 2028 to 2032, will feature two T20 World Cups, the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 50-over World Cup. This cycle operates on a different timeline from the ICC's television rights sales.
What triangular tournaments remain on the schedule?
Triangular formats have fallen out of favour in recent years, yet England will participate in a three-nation series in Pakistan later this month alongside Sri Lanka. The ICC has expressed interest in reviving the quadrangular tournament format as an alternative to bilateral series, though the Big Three have shown no enthusiasm for expanding such competitions.
What happens next?
The ICC's quarterly meeting scheduled for 13–15 November in Bali will serve as the next forum for discussion of the McKinsey report and the 2027–31 FTP. Member boards are expected to debate the strategic review's findings and consider revenue-generation options before finalising the calendar for the next cycle.
Key Facts
- The ICC will not introduce new international tournaments before 2031 following objections from England, Australia and India over fixture congestion.
- The World Test Championship will expand to 12 teams from next year, adding Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.
- India generates approximately 70 per cent of global cricket revenue, giving it significant leverage over ICC calendar decisions.
- The ICC's Indian broadcast rights deal, worth $3.1 billion through 2027, represents the majority of its $3.5 billion global broadcast revenues.
- A McKinsey & Company strategic review will be presented to ICC members at the Bali quarterly meeting in November.
