The International Cricket Council is considering expanding the Men’s T20 World Cup beyond its current 20-team format, with the competition likely to grow to 24 teams from 2032 as part of a broader vision to further globalise the sport, according to an exclusive report by The Telegraph‘s Tim Wigmore.
If approved, the proposal would represent the second expansion of the tournament in under a decade after the field increased from 16 to 20 teams in 2024. It would also move the ICC closer to a longer-term ambition of staging a 32-team Men’s T20 World Cup in the future.
Global growth remains at the centre of ICC thinking
The discussions reflect the ICC’s continued emphasis on using the T20 format to broaden cricket’s international reach. With the sport set to return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, the shortest format is increasingly being viewed as the primary vehicle for attracting new audiences, strengthening emerging markets and creating more opportunities for developing cricket nations.
Performances during the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka have added further momentum to that thinking. Zimbabwe recorded notable victories over Australia and Sri Lanka, while Italy impressed on its tournament debut and Nepal pushed established opposition in a series of competitive displays, reinforcing the case for wider participation at future global events.
Associate opportunities remain under the spotlight
The prospect of a larger T20 World Cup also arrives as debate continues over the balance between expanding the game and preserving opportunities for emerging nations.
As previously reported by cricexec, the ICC’s revised format for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup attracted criticism after reducing the main tournament to 12 teams, prompting concerns among Associate Members about fewer opportunities to compete on the global stage.
Tom Moffat, World Cricketers’ Association Chief Executive Officer, said in a World Cricketers’ Association statement: “It is difficult to reconcile the game’s stated ambition of growing cricket globally with decisions that reduce meaningful opportunities at pinnacle events for some of the countries that stood to benefit most from genuine expansion.”
Against that backdrop, expanding the Men’s T20 World Cup would increase the number of places available in cricket’s flagship short-format event and provide additional qualification opportunities for developing nations.
Tournament structure could change again
The next edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2028, will continue with 20 teams after the ICC approved a revised competition structure featuring five groups of four teams before a Super 10 stage and the knockout rounds.
Should the tournament eventually increase to 24 teams, the most likely format would involve six groups of four sides in the opening phase. The top two teams from each group would then progress to a Super 12 stage before the semi-finals and final, allowing more nations to participate while ensuring leading teams continue to play multiple matches.
More nations could benefit from expansion
An increase to 24 teams would improve qualification prospects for a number of emerging cricket nations.
Under the current ICC Men’s T20I rankings, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Italy and Hong Kong would be among those positioned to benefit from the additional places. Other countries with growing profiles in the format, including the United States, Canada, Nepal and Nigeria, could also stand to gain if the competition expands.
The ICC has not officially confirmed any change beyond the 20-team format already in place for the next tournament cycle. However, discussions around a larger Men’s T20 World Cup underline the governing body’s longer-term objective of using its premier short-format event to accelerate cricket’s international growth while broadening access to the sport’s biggest global competition.
