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The men’s Cricket World Cup will acquisition yet different revamp erstwhile it takes spot successful South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia adjacent year. A convoluted 14-team format has been officially confirmed by nan International Cricket Council (ICC), albeit 1 that trims nan competing nations to 12 almost immediately.
While astatine nan past 2 World Cups nan 10 teams played a round-robin convention shape that threw up 4 semi-finalists, nan expanded 2027 version will statesman pinch nan 3 lowest-ranked teams retired of nan 14 qualifiers playing what has been dubbed a “Super series”. Only 1 of these teams will advancement done to nan main event.
From location 2 groups of six teams will return place, pinch nan apical 3 from each – positive nan adjacent highest-placed broadside crossed nan groups – moving to a azygous “Super 7” shape that is all-plays-all and will determine nan 4 semi-finalists. There will beryllium 57 matches successful total, starting connected 4 October and pinch nan last slated for 21 November.
The ICC connection confirming nan changes claimed they would springiness “greater context, competitiveness and consequence”, though nan anticipation of 2 India v Pakistan matches – nan astir lucrative fixture successful position of broadcast revenues – whitethorn beryllium much applicable to nan governing body’s thinking.
Even pinch nan tourney expanded from 10 teams to 14, nan move to trim 2 aft conscionable 2 games apiece will disappoint nan emerging nations. The original scheme was to commencement pinch 2 groups of seven, only for concerns astir imaginable dormant rubbers to punctual a rethink astatine nan caller ICC yearly conference.
Elsewhere, Ben Stokes is slated to play his first crippled for Durham since retiring from world cricket erstwhile their One-Day Cup run gets nether measurement distant to Derbyshire adjacent Tuesday. It will beryllium nan all-rounder’s first sensation of 50-over cricket since playing successful nan 2023 World Cup successful India.
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A nonaccomplishment of appetite for nan apical level was down Stokes calling clip connected England but he intends to proceed successful home cricket for nan adjacent 18 months astatine least. While not eligible to play successful nan Hundred this summer, having not entered nan auction, he is expected to activity retired opportunities connected nan franchise T20 circuit adjacent winter.
