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Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

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ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta Calls for Structured Bilateral Cricket to Replace Random Scheduling

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta has stated that the era of randomly scheduled bilateral cricket series must come to an end, highlighting that member boards need structured scheduling built around context, culture, competition, and competitiveness.

What Happened

Speaking ahead of upcoming ICC meetings in Hong Kong where the 2027-2031 Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle will be finalised, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta addressed the long-term sustainability of bilateral cricket and the One Day International (ODI) format. Gupta, who assumed office as the seventh ICC CEO on July 7, 2025, noted that sustaining cricket without meaningful context demands significant financial and non-financial resources that nations will struggle to maintain under ad-hoc arrangements.

Key Highlights

  • Call for Reform: Gupta argued that randomly scheduled bilateral fixtures must end and be replaced with models centred on context, culture, competition, and competitiveness.
  • FTP Finalisation: The current men’s FTP runs until April 2027, with the subsequent 2027-2031 schedule set to be finalised at ICC meetings in Hong Kong later this year alongside a new media rights cycle.
  • ODI Scrutiny and Milestones: The 50-over format has faced scrutiny amid the growth of T20 franchise leagues and the World Test Championship, which began in 2019. Despite this, the format marked its 5000th match between Scotland and Canada in Dundee in early August 2026.
  • 2027 World Cup Format: The 14-team 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will feature a qualifying Super Series among the bottom three seeds (12th, 13th, and 14th) alongside a new Super 7 stage.
  • Associate Concerns: Cricket Scotland and the Netherlands Cricket Board (KNCB) publicly criticised the new Super Series structure in August 2026, while former South Africa captain Graeme Smith previously raised concerns regarding bilateral cricket.

Why This Matters

Bilateral series form the core of international scheduling outside of multi-nation tournaments. With T20 franchise leagues expanding and the World Test Championship providing context for the longest format, the ICC leadership views a well-defined framework as essential for the ODI format to thrive rather than merely survive. The decisions made regarding the 2027-2031 FTP and the 2027 World Cup format will establish the commercial and competitive framework for global cricket in the coming years.

What to Watch Next

The ICC member boards are scheduled to meet in Hong Kong later this year to finalise the 2027-2031 Future Tours Programme cycle and review plans connected to the new media rights cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the current CEO of the ICC?

Sanjog Gupta is the CEO of the International Cricket Council, having taken office on July 7, 2025, as the seventh person to hold the role.

What are the four pillars mentioned by Sanjog Gupta?

Gupta identified context, culture, competition, and competitiveness as the four key levers necessary to sustain and drive attention toward international cricket.

When will the next Men’s ODI World Cup take place?

The next ODI World Cup is scheduled for October and November 2027, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Source: Crictracker / Cricinfo reporting on ICC Future Tours Programme developments.