September 28, 2026
ICC preparing to reshape the international cricket calendar for the 2027–31 cycle
Written byDwight Fraser
The global governing body of cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC), is preparing to reshape the international cricket calendar for the 2027–31 cycle, with more T20 Internationals between Full Members and fewer bilateral ODI series emerging as key features of the proposed Future Tours Programme (FTP).
The changes are being discussed at the ICC’s Cricket Operations Workshop in Dubai this week, although the FTP is not expected to be finalised until the ICC’s quarterly meeting in Bali in November.
The biggest potential change is a shift towards more T20 International cricket between Full Members, largely driven by the format’s role in the ICC’s growth strategy and the increasing demands on the international calendar.
T20 Internationals are also supported by a World Cup cycle that runs every two years, compared with the four-year cycle for the ODI World Cup.
That does not mean the 50-over format is being phased out, as the ODI World Cup remains the game’s major global tournament. However, members are discussing ways to give bilateral ODIs greater context while reducing the number of standalone series.
One option under discussion is the return of tri-series and potentially quadrangular tournaments, formats that were more common in the 1990s.
The idea would be to create more meaningful ODI fixtures without restoring the previous ODI Super League.
