The International Cricket Council’s plan to launch a World Club Championship has been delayed until at least 2031, with India, Australia and England opposing the proposal. The decision is significant because it confirms that the next Future Tours Programme cycle, running from 2027 to 2031, is likely to remain unchanged from the current structure.
ICC’s expansion push meets calendar reality
The ICC has been exploring ways to create new revenue streams and broaden the global footprint of the game. One of the key ideas under discussion was a World Club Championship featuring champion franchise teams from major domestic leagues such as the IPL, PSL, BBL, SA20 and The Hundred.
However, the sport’s congested schedule has made it difficult to find a window for any new competition. The latest cricket operations meeting in Dubai concluded without proposing additional events, effectively putting the concept on hold.
Why the proposal faced resistance
The main objection from the Big Three is calendar overload. With bilateral series, ICC events and domestic leagues already occupying most available windows, boards are reluctant to sacrifice existing commitments for a new tournament.
India’s board, the BCCI, remains central to that debate. It contributes around 70% of global cricket revenue, giving it substantial influence when new event structures are discussed.
| Key detail | Reported status |
|---|
| World Club Championship | Delayed until at least 2031 |
| Future Tours Programme cycle | 2027–2031 unchanged |
| Big Three opposition | India, Australia, England |
| BCCI share of global revenue | About 70% |
What this means for ICC event planning
The rejection highlights a recurring challenge for the ICC: expanding the game globally without disrupting the financial and scheduling priorities of its most powerful boards. Any new competition would need a dedicated window, and that window does not currently exist.
Without a redistribution of existing tournaments, introducing a club championship would likely require cuts elsewhere, including major ICC events such as World Cups or the Champions Trophy. That possibility has not been seriously advanced yet, which is why the proposal remains stalled.
Tri-series and quadrangular formats remain under discussion
While the club championship is delayed, the ICC continues to consider other formats. Tri-series cricket, which was more common in the 1990s and early 2000s, is seeing renewed interest. England’s tour to Pakistan for a tri-series involving Sri Lanka is one example of that revival.
The ICC has also explored quadrangular T20 tournaments as a way to create more competitive international cricket. These formats may appeal to smaller boards looking for more regular involvement in multi-team events.
| Format | Current outlook |
|---|
| Tri-series | Reviving in selected fixtures |
| Quadrangular T20 event | Still under consideration |
| Additional multilateral ICC event | No approval before 2031 |
WTC expansion remains the only likely change
The one structural adjustment still being discussed is the expansion of the World Test Championship. Reports suggest the competition could grow from 10 teams to 12, with countries such as Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe potentially being included.
That move would be a meaningful step toward wider participation, although it has not yet been finalised. Compared with the stalled club championship idea, the WTC expansion appears to have greater traction because it works within the existing international framework.
Big Three influence remains decisive
The delay underlines how much control the leading boards continue to hold over the international calendar. Their combined influence shapes not just scheduling, but also the pace at which new tournaments can be introduced.
For now, the numbers tell the story clearly: one proposed global championship delayed, one FTP cycle locked in, and no new multilateral ICC event expected before 2031. That leaves the ICC’s expansion ambitions intact in theory, but limited in practice.