The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a major revamp of its annual awards, with the prestigious ceremony set to return in 2027 after a year-long rethink. The governing body wants to introduce a fresh format that gives greater recognition to outstanding cricketers, teams and achievements across international cricket.
The ICC Awards traditionally honour the best performers of the calendar year through several categories. These include the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the Women’s Cricketer of the Year. The awards also recognise excellence in Test, ODI and T20I cricket, along with Emerging Cricketer and Associate Cricketer honours for both men and women.
However, the awards have largely been announced through digital releases and social media posts rather than a grand event, unlike football’s Ballon d’Or or the NFL Honors. The ICC now appears keen to change that approach and make the awards a bigger occasion on the global cricket calendar.
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An ICC spokesperson told The Guardian that the 2025 edition was deliberately postponed while the organisation reviewed the existing platform. The next edition, scheduled for 2027, will combine performances from 2025 and 2026 into a single awards season.
🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE ON ICC AWARDS. [The Gaurdian]
“The ICC has presented its annual awards digitally for a number of years but we deliberately held back the 2025 edition to rethink what that platform can, and should, look like. As a result of that rethink, we are now in the process of developing a new approach to the ICC awards, which will return in 2027 and treat 2025-26 as a single season, as we look to create a broader, more meaningful way for cricket to celebrate its leading players, teams and achievements”.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 30, 2026
The spokesperson explained that the ICC had presented its annual awards digitally for several years but decided to rethink how the platform could better celebrate the sport’s leading figures. The new approach is expected to offer a broader and more meaningful recognition of individual and team achievements.
The proposed changes could also help the ICC strengthen its position in the international cricket landscape. The governing body has faced challenges in driving major initiatives, particularly with the growing influence of powerful cricket boards and franchise leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Its earlier proposal for a franchise-based Club World Cup, featuring teams from competitions such as the IPL, Big Bash League, SA20 and Pakistan Super League, reportedly faced opposition from India, England and Australia.
By creating a more prominent ICC Awards platform, the organisation could establish a stronger global identity and generate greater interest in its annual celebrations.
