The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly weighing several major changes that could reshape the global cricket calendar in the years ahead. Among the ideas under discussion are a shorter version of One-Day Internationals, a new worldwide T20 franchise tournament along the lines of the now-defunct Champions League T20, more continental competitions such as the Asia Cup, and separate windows for the three formats to reduce scheduling overlap.

According to The Guardian, the proposals are expected to be discussed by the 12 full ICC member nations at the annual general meeting in Edinburgh on Wednesday. The report says the plans are part of a wider strategic review being led by McKinsey, the consulting firm hired by the ICC to assess the future of the sport and help protect all three international formats.

Cricket remains one of the world’s most popular sports, but it is still struggling to establish itself as a truly global game. While smaller nations have made encouraging progress in recent years, long-term sustainability remains a concern. At the same time, the traditional ODI and Test formats continue to face pressure from the rapid rise of T20 cricket and the growing preference for shorter, faster contests.

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Many within the sport have already predicted that ODIs could be the first major format to feel the full effect of T20’s expansion. Bilateral 50-over series often struggle for context and attention, especially in a crowded international calendar where fans are increasingly drawn to shorter, high-intensity matches.

The ICC is reviewing proposals to limit bilateral ODI series exclusively to the 18 months leading up to a World Cup to increase the scarcity value and quality of 50-over cricket. (The Guardian). pic.twitter.com/YZPcz1XLfV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 6, 2026

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently summed up the argument, saying that shorter games are more likely to help cricket grow globally and become a stronger Olympic sport. “If the game has to become global and it has to become an Olympic sport, the shorter the game, the more viable it is,” Ravichandran Ashwin said, adding that T20 cricket is here to stay while ODI cricket faces an uncertain future.

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The report also states that ODI cricket could eventually be confined to an 18-month window before each 50-over World Cup. In addition, the ICC may expand the World Test Championship to 12 teams for the 2027-2029 cycle, with Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan among the nations expected to benefit. Any broader structural changes, however, are likely to be phased in only after the current cycle ends in 2031.