ICC Annual Conference Concludes Without Decisions on ODI Format or WTC Expansion
Quick Look
- The International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference in Edinburgh concluded without decisions on reducing ODIs to 40 overs or expanding the World Test Championship.
- Suspensions for USA Cricket and Cricket Canada were maintained, while France Cricket was put on notice and Mauritius Cricket Federation admitted as an Associate Member.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh was a venue for discussing the long-term strategy for cricket and potential format changes. Key topics included the future of the ODI format and the expansion of the World Test Championship.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not taken any decision on reducing One-Day Internationals from 50 overs to 40 overs, putting to rest speculation that a major format change was imminent following its Annual Conference in Edinburgh. Despite media reports suggesting that the governing body was considering shortening the format, no proposal was approved during the meeting. While the ICC Board discussed its long-term strategy for the game and heard presentations on restructuring cricket in the next commercial cycle, there was no formal decision regarding the future of the ODI format.
WTC expansion also remains on hold
The conference also failed to produce any breakthrough on expanding the World Test Championship (WTC) from nine to 12 teams. Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe remain outside the competition, with the ICC Board making no announcement on their inclusion in future editions. The annual gathering featured presentations on the ICC's strategic roadmap for the next cycle, while official media rights partner JioStar also addressed the Board. However, the details of those discussions have not been made public.
USA Cricket, Cricket Canada remain suspended
Another major outcome of the conference was the decision to continue the suspension of USA Cricket (USAC) and Cricket Canada. USAC has been under suspension since September 2025, and although the ICC acknowledged the importance of restoring its membership ahead of cricket's return at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the Board decided to maintain the status quo. Cricket Canada, suspended in June, will also remain under suspension until it resolves its internal governance issues. The ICC is also monitoring the possibility of a Canadian franchise joining Major League Cricket (MLC) before taking any further decision. Meanwhile, France Cricket has been placed on notice by the ICC, while the Mauritius Cricket Federation (MCF) was officially admitted as an Associate Member. The addition takes the ICC's global membership to 111 nations, comprising 12 Full Members and 99 Associate Members. The ICC Annual Conference was held in Edinburgh from July 8 to July 11.
Open Questions
- When will decisions be made on ODI format changes?
- Will WTC expand to 12 teams?
- What are the specific governance issues for Cricket Canada?
