12-Team Expansion on the Cards for World Test Championship

Sports Desk, Rtv News

Publish : 16 May 2026, 08:30 AM

South Africa is the champion of the last World Test Championship. Photo: Collected

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.

Follow google news channel to get RTV news Google News

ICC Test Championship

Related More News

Indian Women Also Refuse to Receive Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

India clinched the Women's Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka in the final, but the aftermath mirrored past controversies.

Nationwide T20 Tournament to be Held in Arafat Rahman Koko's Memory

A nationwide T20 cricket tournament will be organised in memory of late Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and also the former chairman of Development Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, to unearth cricketers from remote areas and provide them an opportunity to showcase their talent on a bigger stage.

Shanto Targets Next Test, not WTC Final

Despite having a realistic chance of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto refused to look that far as he focused on to keep up the good form in the next Test against Australia too. Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series following a nine-wicket victory in the first Test in Darwin today. They are now on the brink of a historic chance to sweep the series. However, the outcome of the first Test helped Bangladesh climb to fourth place in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 66.67. The win was Bangladesh's first Test victory on Australian soil and came after a 23-year wait for another Test in the country. Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198 in the first innings before posting 426, with Tanzid Hasan Tamim scoring a century and Hasan Mahmud taking six wickets. Australia were dismissed for 284 in their second innings, leaving Bangladesh a target of 57, which they chased for the loss of one wicket. The victory lifted Bangladesh's points percentage from 58.33 to 66.67 and moved them into the top four of the WTC table. Shanto, however, said the team would not get carried away by the possibility of qualifying for the final. "If you look at the points table, there is definitely a chance. However, as a captain, I always say one thing in the dressing room: don't think too far ahead," Shanto said at the post-match press conference. "How can we play this series or this Test well, that is important. It was a very big win, the best win in the country's history. However, we are still not an average world team. The Test team is slowly moving towards a good place. There is an opportunity, and we have to use this opportunity." Bangladesh will now turn their attention to the second and final Test against Australia, beginning on August 22 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. Australia remain top of the WTC standings with 77.78 percentage points from nine Tests, followed by South Africa on 75 and New Zealand on 72.22. India are fifth on 48.15, behind Bangladesh. Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan and West Indies occupy the next four positions.

History Beckons in Darwin: Bangladesh Dreams of Victory

Bangladesh is within striking distance of a historic victory in the Darwin Test. At the end of the third day, after securing a massive 228-run first-innings lead, the Tigers have reduced Australia to 161 for 4 in their second innings, leaving the hosts trailing Bangladesh by 67 runs. Dominating the match from the outset, Bangladesh first bowled Australia out for 198. In response, the Tigers posted 426 runs, powered by strong batting performances from Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Tanzid Hasan, thereby establishing a commanding first-innings lead. Bangladesh’s bowlers continued to put pressure on Australia in the second innings. After taking 6 wickets in the first innings, Hasan Mahmud claimed 2 more scalps, dismissing Jack Weatherald and Travis Head. Miraz and Taijul Islam picked up one wicket each. Cameron Green and Alex Carey are currently fighting it out for Australia, remaining unbeaten on 43 and 19 runs respectively at stumps. Earlier, Steve Smith was dismissed for 44 following a brilliant catch by Miraz. On the fourth day, Australia’s primary objective will be to erase Bangladesh's lead, while the Tigers will aim to quickly pick up the hosts' remaining six wickets and march towards victory. All in all, the fourth day in Darwin holds a strong prospect of becoming a memorable milestone in Bangladesh's cricket history.

Miraz Hits Fifty, Bangladesh's Lead Crosses 200

Bangladesh is in firm control of the Test match against Australia at the Marrara Oval in Darwin, powered by a half-century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and a boundary from Taskin Ahmed that pushed Bangladesh's score past 400, while the team's lead also surpassed 200 runs. Playing the fifth ball of the 126th over towards vacant mid-on for a quick couple, Miraz brought up his 12th Test half-century. Starting the day on 32, the all-rounder reached his fifty off 117 deliveries, striking 4 boundaries. He became the third Bangladeshi batter to cross the fifty-run mark in the ongoing innings on Australian soil. His teammates applauded him from the dressing room to celebrate the milestone. Miraz has emerged as one of the architects of Bangladesh's dominance at the Marrara Oval. Earlier, he had played an innings of 109 runs in the warm-up match against the Cricket Australia XI. In contrast to that match—where Bangladesh was bundled out for just 54 runs in the second innings—the team is displaying a completely different scenario against a strong Australian side. On the first delivery of the 129th over, Taskin Ahmed edged a bouncer from Pat Cummins to find a boundary. That stroke pushed Bangladesh's total past 400 and extended the lead beyond 200 runs. Off the very next delivery, Steven Smith dropped Taskin in the same area. Had he taken the catch, the Australian star fielder could have claimed the record for the most catches in Test cricket entirely for himself. Earlier, Bangladesh started the day at 351 for 6. Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam returned to the pavilion within the first hour of the day's play. Subsequently, resilient batting partnerships by Miraz and Taskin helped Bangladesh recover and further solidify their position against Australia.