Former World Cup-winning Australian captain Steve Waugh criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for modifying the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup qualification and main draw structure. Under the revised format, although 14 teams technically qualify, the main group stage will effectively feature only 12 teams after a three-team Super Series qualifier round. Waugh called the reduction a “backward step” and contrasted it with football expanding the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams.

Steve Waugh publicly criticized the ICC, calling the structural change a “backward step” for international cricket. He pointed out that while global sporting events like the FIFA World Cup are expanding (growing from 32 to 48 teams), cricket is restricting opportunities for associate and emerging nations. Waugh emphasized that the only way for growing teams to improve is by regularly competing against stronger, elite teams in major tournaments.

What Are The ICC New Rules?

Under the revised framework approved by the ICC, 11 teams will automatically advance to the main draw, while the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th will compete in a preliminary “Super Series” round. Only one team from this round will earn the final spot in the 12-team main tournament, which will then be divided into two groups of six for the group stage.

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Cricket boards from Associate nations, including Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (Netherlands), expressed strong disappointment with the changes introduced with less than 18 months remaining before the tournament. In a joint statement, they highlighted that reducing guaranteed main-stage spots undermines recent efforts to globalize cricket and sends the wrong message to developing nations aiming to establish themselves on the world stage.