The ICC has approved major changes to its men's global tournaments. The 14-team ODI World Cup will adopt a three-stage format featuring a new 'Super 7' round, while the 20-team T20 World Cup will introduce a 'Super 10' stage and eliminators for semi-final qualification. The revamped formats aim to increase competition, with final approval expected in November.

Edinburgh: The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has announced a comprehensive structural overhaul of its major men's events, which include introducing a three-stage format for the 14-team ODI World Cup and expanding the second stage of the T20 World Cup to a 'Super 10' format along with eliminators.

The decisions were finalized during the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh, following recommendations from the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC), with the governing body saying it’s “an objective to create more meaningful contests, elevate competitive standards, and enhance the experience for athletes and fans.”

While the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will continue to feature 14 teams, the tournament format will shift away from the traditional format. Instead, it will feature a three-stage competition leading to the finals. The lower-ranked three teams (Teams 12, 13, and 14) will initially square off in the round one named ‘Super Series’, with only the top team progressing to the main stage.

Round 2 will consist of 12 teams split into two groups of six teams playing 30 matches. The top three teams from each group, along with the next highest-placed team across both groups, will advance to a newly minted seven-team round-robin stage called 'Super 7' (worth 21 matches). The top four teams from the Super 7 stage will qualify for the semi-finals.