The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially mapped out the future of global cricket, releasing a comprehensive schedule for major men's tournaments running through 2035. The announcement, confirmed following board meetings in Bali, Indonesia, provides a long-term blueprint for the sport, including host nations for marquee events and refined qualification pathways for upcoming World Cups.
A significant highlight of the new calendar is the allocation of hosting rights for major tournaments in the Indian subcontinent. India is set to host the 2029 Men's Champions Trophy from October 9 to 28, while the 2031 Men's Cricket World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Bangladesh between October 9 and November 23. England has also been confirmed as the host for the 2030 Men's T20 World Cup, which will be staged across England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Structuring the Future of Global Cricket
The approved schedule encompasses a wide array of formats, featuring four editions of the Men's T20 World Cup, two ODI World Cups, three World Test Championship (WTC) finals, and two Champions Trophy tournaments. England will serve as the venue for the 2029 and 2031 WTC finals, scheduled for June 8-12 and June 12-16, respectively. While the hosts for the 2033 Champions Trophy and the 2033 and 2035 WTC finals remain to be decided, the calendar concludes with the 2035 Men's Cricket World Cup, slated for October 2 to November 18.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta noted that the structured calendar is designed to provide stability and visibility for member associations. By finalising these windows, the governing body aims to assist teams in developing long-term high-performance programmes and clear player pathways. The move is intended to enhance the competitiveness and consequence of the ICC's global event portfolio.
Qualification Pathways and Olympic Integration
Alongside the tournament schedule, the ICC has formalised qualification frameworks for several upcoming events. The 2027 Men's ODI World Cup qualifier will feature 10 teams, with the top four sides advancing to the main tournament. A unique qualification layer has been introduced, where the winner of the qualifier progresses directly to the World Cup group stage, while the remaining three qualified teams will compete in a Super Series to determine the final spot.
The ICC also confirmed details for cricket's return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The final qualification tournaments for both men and women will take place in Bangladesh in early 2028. Each event will feature eight teams competing for the final available Olympic berths. Furthermore, the qualification framework for the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup has been set, with 10 teams already qualified and two remaining spots to be contested via a 10-team Global Qualifier.
