The ICC’s next calendar argument is no longer just about squeezing more cricket into a crowded year. It is about who controls the game’s commercial centre of gravity.
The Guardian reports that a strategic review being handled with McKinsey will be discussed by the 12 full members at the ICC annual general meeting in Edinburgh, with a possible World Club Championship for T20 franchises, format-specific windows and shorter ODIs among the ideas being explored.
Why the review matters
The key detail is timing. The current Future Tours Programme and major ICC events leave little room for structural change before 2031, but the direction of travel is significant.
Fixed windows would give Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is clearer space in an increasingly franchise-led market. A club event, meanwhile, would revive the basic concept behind the old Champions League T20, but under an ICC umbrella and in a far more crowded global economy.
The review also carries immediate political weight. England, India and Australia are unlikely to welcome any model that weakens their control over bilateral revenue, while smaller full members would have obvious interest in more valuable multilateral cricket.
WTC expansion also in play
The same report says a 12-team World Test Championship for 2027-29 will be discussed, potentially bringing Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan into the table if one-off Tests can carry points.
That would be a major shift for international cricket: broader access, but another layer of negotiation around fixtures, finance and competitive balance.
Future Tours Programme update from the ICC.
