12-Team Expansion on the Cards for World Test Championship

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to reassess the future structure of the World Test Championship (WTC), with major changes potentially on the horizon.

Key discussions regarding the framework of the tournament are scheduled to take place during the upcoming Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) and Board meetings next week.

According to cricket website ESPNcricinfo, the CEC will hold a virtual meeting on May 21. This will be followed by the ICC Board meeting on May 30 and 31 in Ahmedabad, India, coinciding with the final stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Last year, the ICC formed a working group led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose to draft recommendations for the future of the WTC.

While the tournament is currently in its fourth cycle—and the existing format is highly likely to remain unchanged for the 2027–29 cycle—proposals for expansion have gained significant traction.

Expansion to 12 Teams Proposed
The working group’s primary recommendation is to expand the WTC from a 9-team format to a 12-team competition.

This expansion would incorporate the remaining Full Member nations: Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan. The proposal will first be vetted by the CEC before being presented to the Board.

Earlier in April, ESPNcricinfo reported that the new proposal also contemplates including single-test series as part of the WTC points table.

Currently, the nine participating Full Members play bilateral series based on mutual agreements. Over a two-year cycle, each team plays three home and three away series, with a mandatory minimum of two Tests per series.

Schedule and Implementation Timeline
The current Future Tours Programme (FTP) is set to conclude in March next year, leading up to the World Test Championship final in England in June 2027.

While member nations determine their bilateral schedules through mutual negotiations, the final calendar requires ICC ratification.

A final decision on the new structure is unlikely to be reached during the May meetings.

However, the ICC expects substantial progress, with major decisions anticipated at the ICC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Edinburgh this coming July, scheduled to take place after the Women's T20 World Cup.

These quarterly meetings were originally scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, across March and April but were postponed due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Uncertainty Over PCB Attendance
With the Board meeting relocated to Ahmedabad, the physical participation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains uncertain.

Historically, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi attends these meetings in person.

However, given the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan and the complex relationship between the two boards, it is still unconfirmed whether he will travel to India or join the session virtually.