Associate cricket boards slam ICC's revised 2027 World Cup format

At the ICC's annual conference in Edinburgh, officials unveiled a new format for the 2027 men's 50-over World Cup, reducing the main event to 12 teams and relegating the three lowest-ranked qualifiers to a preliminary Super Series. Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Association (KNCB) issued a joint statement expressing deep concerns about the impact on associate members, noting that the shift forces them into three separate qualifying tournaments and creates operational and financial pressures.

They faulted the ICC for a lack of transparent decision-making and for informing associate members only after the fact, describing the process as "disrespectful." The two boards affirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue with the ICC but highlighted that no further response has been received since their last meeting. The World Cricketers' Association had previously raised similar objections to the format change.