ICC Delays World Club Championship Plans After ‘Big Three’ Object

ICC World Club Championship: The International Cricket Council has put plans for a proposed World Club Championship on hold until at least 2031 after India, Australia and England raised objections to adding more major competitions to the international cricket calendar.

The three most influential cricket boards, commonly referred to as the ‘Big Three’, have argued that there is little room for additional international tournaments unless existing competitions such as the World Cup or Champions Trophy are removed.

For now, neither of those major tournaments is expected to be sacrificed, meaning the ICC’s proposed new competitions have been pushed back.

ICC World Club Championship Put on Hold

The ICC had been exploring the possibility of launching a World Club Championship as part of a broader review of the international cricket calendar.

The proposed competition was among several ideas discussed as the governing body looked for new ways to expand cricket and generate additional revenue.

However, discussions between the ICC and member boards did not result in agreement on a new tournament.

A cricket operations workshop held in Dubai last week concluded without proposing any additional events, meaning the next Future Tours Programme (FTP), covering 2027 to 2031, is expected to largely follow the existing structure.

Why India, Australia and England Opposed the Proposal

The central issue is the increasingly crowded cricket calendar.

India, Australia and England already have extensive international commitments, along with their domestic and franchise competitions.

The three boards reportedly believe there is no space for additional multilateral tournaments without removing existing events from the calendar.

The ICC’s current schedule already includes major competitions such as:

• ODI World Cup
• T20 World Cup
• Champions Trophy
• World Test Championship
• Bilateral Test, ODI and T20I series

Adding another global competition would create further pressure on players and boards.

The Big Three have therefore made it clear that they are not currently willing to support additional multilateral tournaments unless the existing calendar is significantly changed.

ICC Was Exploring New Revenue Opportunities

The proposed World Club Championship was not simply about creating another cricket tournament.

The ICC has been examining new competitions as part of a broader strategy to increase revenue and strengthen the sport’s financial position.

A strategic review conducted by US consultancy McKinsey is expected to play an important role in discussions about the future of international cricket.

One major concern is the potential decline in the value of ICC media rights, particularly in the Indian market.

India is the most important commercial market in world cricket and accounts for a very large share of global cricket revenues.

India’s Role in Global Cricket Revenue

The financial importance of India is one of the major factors behind the ICC’s interest in developing new competitions.

According to the Guardian’s report, India generates roughly 70% of global cricket revenue.

The ICC’s Indian broadcast-rights deal for the 2024-27 period was worth approximately $3.1 billion, but the market has subsequently changed after Disney Star’s merger with Viacom18 created JioStar.

That consolidation has raised concerns about competition when future rights deals are negotiated.

The ICC therefore has a strong financial incentive to find new products and competitions that could attract broadcasters and audiences.

What Would the World Club Championship Have Offered?

The proposed tournament would have represented another major step in the growing relationship between international cricket and franchise cricket.

A World Club Championship could potentially have brought successful teams from major domestic T20 leagues together in a global competition.

Possible participating leagues could have included major franchise competitions such as:

• Indian Premier League
• Big Bash League
• Pakistan Super League
• SA20
• The Hundred
• Other established domestic T20 leagues

However, the exact format and participating teams had not been finalised before the plans were delayed.

The concept was part of a wider discussion about creating new international cricket products rather than an approved tournament with a confirmed schedule.

Future Tours Programme to Remain Largely Unchanged

The decision means the next FTP covering 2027-2031 is expected to remain broadly similar to the current cycle.

The major cricket boards have already committed to a number of bilateral series during that period.

For example, the Ashes will continue to occupy an important position in the international calendar, while England and India also have Test commitments against each other during the upcoming FTP cycle.

This makes finding space for an entirely new global competition particularly difficult.

World Test Championship Could Be Expanded

Although the World Club Championship has been delayed, one potential change to the international calendar remains under consideration.

The World Test Championship could be expanded to 12 teams, with Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe potentially joining the competition.

However, the ICC has not yet finalised those plans.

If approved, the expansion would provide more Test-playing opportunities to emerging cricket nations while increasing the number of teams involved in the global Test championship.

Smaller Cricket Nations Had Shown Interest

While India, Australia and England have opposed adding more multilateral tournaments, there is reportedly interest among some smaller cricket nations.

For developing teams, additional global competitions could provide:

• More international matches
• Greater exposure
• Increased broadcast opportunities
• Additional revenue
• More competitive experience

That creates a difficult balancing act for the ICC.

The governing body wants to grow cricket globally, but the teams that generate the largest audiences also have the busiest schedules.

The Growing Problem of Cricket’s Crowded Calendar

The latest development highlights one of the biggest challenges facing modern cricket.

Players now compete across multiple formats while also participating in domestic franchise leagues around the world.

International cricket itself has expanded significantly, with World Cups, bilateral series and the World Test Championship all requiring dedicated windows.

Adding another major tournament could increase player workload and reduce the availability of leading international stars.

The Big Three’s opposition demonstrates how difficult it will be for the ICC to expand the calendar without first removing or restructuring existing competitions.

What Happens Next?

The ICC is expected to continue discussions about the future structure of international cricket.

A quarterly meeting in Bali next month is expected to be an important point for members to consider the wider strategic review and future calendar.

The governing body has not completely abandoned the idea of creating new competitions, but the latest discussions suggest that significant changes will not happen before 2031.

For now, cricket’s existing international structure is set to remain in place.

ICC World Club Championship: Key Points

• The ICC has delayed plans for a proposed World Club Championship.
• No new major multilateral international tournaments are expected before 2031 at the earliest.
• India, Australia and England opposed adding more events to the calendar.
• The Big Three believe the schedule is already too crowded.
• Existing events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy are not being removed.
• The 2027-2031 Future Tours Programme is expected to remain largely unchanged.
• The ICC is considering expanding the World Test Championship to 12 teams.
• Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe could potentially join the WTC.
• The ICC is exploring new competitions partly because of concerns about future media-rights revenue.
• Further discussions are expected at the ICC’s upcoming meeting in Bali.

Final Word

The ICC’s decision to delay the World Club Championship demonstrates just how complicated the modern cricket calendar has become.

While the governing body is looking for new competitions and additional revenue streams, India, Australia and England have made it clear that they do not want another major tournament added without changes to the existing schedule.

For fans, the World Club Championship remains an intriguing possibility, particularly given the popularity of franchise cricket. But for now, the idea will remain on hold, with 2031 or later emerging as the earliest possible window for a major expansion of the international calendar.

The focus will now shift to how the ICC balances commercial growth, player workload, international cricket and the interests of smaller cricket nations in the years ahead.