The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board wrapped up its annual meetings in Edinburgh on Wednesday, focusing on strategies to elevate the prestige of its global cricket events.

During the meeting, the Board, which includes representatives from associate nations, approved recommendations from the Chief Executives' Committee. These changes aim to refine the formats of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, enhancing the competitive landscape and overall experience for players and fans alike.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will maintain participation from 14 teams, but the new format introduces a three-stage competition leading to the Finals. This structure is designed to increase the significance of each match, ensuring that every game contributes to the tournament's narrative. The initial rounds will have heightened stakes, culminating in a Super 7 stage where seven qualifying teams will compete in a round-robin format to secure spots in the semi-finals.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup serves as a vital platform for expanding the participation of cricketing nations. Following the success of emerging teams in the 2026 tournament, the ICC has decided to increase the number of teams in the second stage from 8 to 10. This change will allow more emerging teams to qualify, with two teams from each group advancing.

Additionally, the introduction of 'eliminators' will see the second and third-ranked teams from the Super 10 stage compete for semi-final spots, adding more excitement to the tournament's conclusion.

For the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028, Scotland will directly enter the Europe Regional Final due to its unique circumstances in the 2026 tournament. Other teams that participated in 2026 but did not qualify automatically will move on to the Global Qualifier. The remaining eight spots in this qualifier will be filled through regional competitions, with two teams from Africa, Asia, and Europe, and one from the Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions. The top team from each region, along with the next three highest-placed teams overall, will qualify for the 2028 tournament, subject to performance criteria.

The Board has also endorsed a new marquee tournament, which was proposed by the ICC Development and Chief Executives' Committees. Final approval will be sought after a review by the ICC's Finance & Commercial Affairs committee in the upcoming November meetings.