ICC draws up schedule for 2032-35 cycle

The ICC members, currently meeting in Bali, are expected to approve the global events calendar beyond the current cycle, which ends with the 2031 ODI World Cup in India and Bangladesh. The schedule for the 2032-35 period has been drawn up with six global events, including one eight-team Champions Trophy.

According to sources, as in the current cycle, the ICC plans to stage a global event every year in the next cycle as well, beginning with the T20 World Cup in 2032. The window earmarked for the tournament is October-November, although no venue has been specified. The year 2033 will see two global events: the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June and the Champions Trophy in October.

There will be another T20 World Cup in 2034, with July being the allotted window, followed by the WTC final and the ODI World Cup in 2035. Interestingly, the ICC has not specified windows for either the WTC final or the ODI World Cup. This absence of a designated window may lead to speculations. For the record, England have secured the hosting rights for the WTC finals in 2027, 2029 and 2031.

As mentioned earlier, the ICC has earmarked June for the WTC final in 2033 without a mention of the venue. That is the time of the year when England is in the middle of its cricket season and there may be some inferences here as in the case of the July window for the 2034 T20 World Cup. The UK can be a potential choice here but the ICC is silent on this.

Sources say the ICC has not decided on the venues of any of the events mentioned above. The ICC has also remained silent on the format of the Champions Trophy in 2033. The Bali meeting will also approve WTC matchups for the 2027-29 and 2029-31 cycles.

Meanwhile, the ICC Board will review the recommendations of the Franchise League Review Group. There is a perception that the world body will review its role while approving the leagues. As the ICC said, “The Franchise League Review Group has set out to consider ways to enhance the current ICC sanctioning framework of regulations that further protect and strengthen the ecosystem to address new challenges arising from the increasing number of franchise leagues.” Tamim Iqbal of the Bangladesh Cricket Board heads the group, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia among its members.

The meeting is also expected to approve the revenue distribution for the current cycle. About USD 650 million is available for disbursement among the members, and the amount is expected to be distributed in line with the existing revenue-sharing formula.