ICC plans major WTC expansion to 12 teams from 2027–29 cycle: Report

In the first season of the World Test Championship (WTC) in the 2019-2021 season, the Virat Kohli-led Indian side became the runners-up after they lost the final against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand side. They followed it up with another superb performance in the 2021-23 cycle but lost to Australia in the final at the Kennington Oval in South London. 

Australia, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, continues the same dominance and has reached the final. But the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa side became the third champion of the tournament for the 2023-25 cycle at the iconic Lord’s ground in London.

ICC set to increase World Test Championship teams from 9 to 12

Cricket chiefs have considered that they would allow one-off Tests to be included from the 2027-29 cycle of the WTC, as they look at expanding the Test league to 12 teams. An ICC working group, led by the former Kiwi batter, Roger Twose, is expected to present the idea to board heads at the ICC meeting later this month.

In the previous year, Twose was appointed as the head of a working group and found ways to enhance the game’s structure, with the game struggling to deal with scheduling issues caused by the three formats and a growing ecosystem of the franchise leagues.

See Also: Watch: Former India star concerned of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The working group will now return to expand the teams of the WTC model from nine to 12, which includes Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland.

Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe likely to join next WTC cycle

Being the full member sides, they were not included in the WTC when it was launched in 2019. They play Tests, but chances against the nine sides have been limited. According to one official familiar with the discussion, the aim is to make it more financially viable for the bigger full members to host the smaller ones.

In the previous rule, it was admitted that a WRC series must have at least two Tests, which was viewed as a loss-making exercise for the bigger boards. The full members host three home and as many away series over the course of two years.

Big structural changes in Test cricket under discussion for 2027–29

That will allow the one-off Tests to take place among Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan. For example, Zimbabwe could then play one-off Tests against South Africa on a tour. England, apart from their five-match Test series at home, could also feature in a one-off Test.

But the boards will consider a few things- whether the one-off Tests are acceptable as a part of the WTC, and whether it’s sustainable financially for the three non-WTC teams to commit to two years or more.