The International Cricket Council (ICC) has postponed plans to introduce a World Club Championship and additional international multilateral tournaments until at least 2031. This decision comes after significant resistance from England, Australia, and India, often referred to as the 'Big Three' in cricket.
A cricket operations workshop held in Dubai last week concluded without any new events being proposed. Consequently, the next Future Tours Programme (FTP), covering the period from 2027 to 2031, is set to mirror the current cycle.
England, Australia, and India have maintained that the existing cricket calendar has no room for extra events unless current tournaments, such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy, are removed, a topic not under discussion. The ICC, however, remains keen to explore new competitions to grow the sport and its own revenues.
One potential change to the upcoming FTP is the expansion of the World Test Championship to include 12 teams from next year, with Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe potentially joining. Finalised plans for this expansion have not yet been issued to members.