ODI World Cup: Associate captains fear ICC is closing door on emerging teams

The International Cricket Council’s decision to overhaul the ODI World Cup format in 2027 has drawn criticism from several associate captains who believe the changes will make it harder for emerging nations to compete in cricket’s showcase.

The new structure, approved at the ICC’s annual conference, will maintain the 14-team tournament to introduce a “Super Series” involving the three lowest-ranked qualified sideswith only one team advancing to the main competition.

The move drew strong reactions from Netherlands captain Scott Edwards, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus and Scotland’s Richie Berrington, who all questioned whether the changes were in line with the ICC’s aim to grow the game globally.

ASSOCIATED TEAMS WORRY OF SMALLER OPPORTUNITIES

Associate nations have long sought greater representation at ICC events, with teams such as Scotland, Namibia and the Netherlands putting in memorable performances against full members in recent years. However, the latest restructuring has raised fears that the road to the World Cup is even tougher.

Edwards described the decision as “incredibly disappointing” and argued that the affiliated teams had spent years building competitive ODI programs only to see their opportunities curtailed.

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“Qualifying for the ODI World Cup is a huge achievement for any country, so when the reality of that opportunity changes after years of planning, it’s incredibly disappointing,” Edwards said.

“The ICC talks a lot about growing the game globally, but decisions like this make it difficult for associated nations to play against the best teams in the world.”

The Dutch captain added that matches against elite opposition are crucial not only to improve standards but also to inspire future generations of cricketers. In his opinion, sport should create “more opportunities on the global stage, not less”.

Erasmus echoed these concerns, stressing that ODI cricket remains the premier format for players from associated nations. He argued that teams that qualify should face no further hurdles before getting a chance to compete with the world’s best.

For players from cricket’s emerging nations, according to Erasmus, the FIFA World Cup after 50 is “our long form”, making access to the tournament even more significant.

Meanwhile, Scotland captain Richie Berrington focused on the decision-making process. He urged administrators to more meaningfully involve players when implementing major changes to global tournaments.

“The players are not expected to make every decision, but we should be meaningfully consulted on decisions that have a significant impact on the game and on the players’ careers,” Berrington said.

“Better decisions are made when different perspectives are brought to the table, and we urge the game to start doing that properly.”

Criticism was also supported by the World Cricket Association, which questioned the transparency of the decision. The players’ body argued that limiting opportunities for affiliated teams was at odds with cricket’s ambition to grow globally and pointed out that countries had invested years in qualifying routes.

HOW THE NEW ODI WORLD CUP FORMAT WORKS

The 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will have a new three-tier format. Although 14 teams qualify for the tournament, not all of them advance directly to the main competition.

The three lowest-ranked qualified teams will first compete in a “Super Series”, with only one side progressing to the next stage. The remaining teams will then advance to the main stage of the tournament.

From there, the teams will be divided into two groups, with each side playing every other team in their pool. The top teams will then advance to the newly introduced “Super 7” stage, where they will play further matches to decide the four semi-finalists. The tournament will conclude with semi-finals and finals and is expected to have 57 matches.

For the Associated Nations, however, this problem goes beyond the format itself. Many fear that the increasingly complex qualification process will limit exposure, funding and opportunities to face elite opposition. For countries still trying to establish themselves on the world stage, such opportunities are invaluable.

That’s why captains like Edwards, Erasmus and Berrington came forward. At a time when cricket is trying to expand beyond its traditional powerhouses, he believes the sport should be opening more doors to emerging teams rather than putting new obstacles in their way.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

18 Jul 2026 11:52 IST