Now Reading: Steve Waugh slams ICC over ODI World Cup cut to 12 teams
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Steve Waugh slams ICC over ODI World Cup cut to 12 teams
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has criticised the International Cricket Council for reducing the ODI World Cup 2027 from 14 to 12 teams, calling it a backward step. The tournament, co-hosted by…
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has criticised the International Cricket Council for reducing the ODI World Cup 2027 from 14 to 12 teams, calling it a backward step. The tournament, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will now have a qualifying round for the bottom-ranked sides.
Waugh told The Telegraph that the move goes against the trend of expanding global tournaments, pointing to FIFA's recent 48-team World Cup. He said cricket will only grow as a global sport if it is inclusive and gives more teams the chance to compete against top sides.
Associate nations including the Netherlands and Scotland have also condemned the change, warning it undermines years of progress. In a joint statement, the boards said reducing opportunities for emerging nations sends the wrong message at a time when cricket should be expanding its reach.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The ICC's decision reverses its earlier expansion plan for the 2027 edition, which was seen as a step towards growing the sport beyond the traditional Test-playing nations. The associate boards' protest echoes similar frustration from Ireland and Afghanistan during past qualification changes. With the 2028 Olympics set to feature cricket after more than a century, the ICC faces pressure to balance elite competition with genuine global development. The 12-team format means only one of three associate sides will reach the main draw, limiting exposure for emerging talent. The next full ICC board meeting, expected before the end of 2025, will show whether the decision holds or faces review.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
