Scotland and Netherlands Protest ICC World Cup Format Changes

Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association issued a joint statement criticizing the ICC for changing the Men’s ODI World Cup format without consulting Associate Members.

The new format expands the tournament to 14 teams but introduces a complex four-round structure, including a 'Super Series' that risks eliminating teams early and undermining qualification pathways.

With the next World Cup qualifier scheduled for February 2027, the boards argue that these changes, made less than 18 months before the tournament, create significant financial and operational uncertainty.