The World Test Championship (WTC) is set to retain its nine-team format, extending through to 2031, despite some calls for broadening the competition. A decision is expected to be finalised at the ICC board’s meeting in Bali on Sunday, where the board is anticipated to endorse the ICC’s recommendation to maintain the status quo for the 2027-29 and 2029-31 periods.
The WTC is concluding its fourth cycle and has been the subject of various discussions over the years, including a proposal for a two-tier league. Recently, an ICC working group, led by former New Zealand player Roger Twose, recommended expanding the tournament to include all 12 Full Members in a single division. This idea was particularly popular among Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan, the Full Members currently outside the WTC.
However, concerns persist about whether increasing the number of teams adds commercial value. As the WTC is organised through bilateral agreements between members, with only the final managed by the ICC, the current format seems preferred for now.
A Chief Executives’ Committee meeting on Saturday set the stage for Sunday’s decision, witnessing strong debates over the format. The three excluded Full Members expressed concerns that their Test cricket development is stalled without WTC status and that their chances of entering the top nine are limited without a promotion-and-relegation system.
Cricket South Africa, a proponent of expansion, also voiced its support, with Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki passionately advocating for inclusion during the meeting. However, the positions of key players like the BCCI and Cricket Australia remain unclear, and while England has played Zimbabwe and Ireland in recent one-off Tests, the ECB is hesitant about expansion, citing financial and travel challenges.
Meanwhile, the ECB and Zimbabwe Cricket are finalising plans for England’s historic 2030 tour to Zimbabwe, the first in over thirty years, including a Test at Victoria Falls.
For those advocating expansion, Sunday’s board meeting is a final opportunity, though the prospect of a 10-team compromise remains uncertain, especially given that Zimbabwe played 10 Tests in 2025 but only two this year.
At the same time, a strategic review examining the future of international cricket and its three formats has been conducted by McKinsey, a global management consulting firm, with a presentation shared ahead of the board meeting.
The cricketing world keenly awaits the outcome of these deliberations, which will shape the trajectory of Test cricket in the coming years.
