The 2027 ODI World Cup was supposed to feature 14 teams in two groups of seven, followed by a Super Six stage. Standard format. Everyone knew the rules. Associate nations built their entire qualification campaigns around it.

Then the ICC held their annual conference in Edinburgh in July and just changed it. Added a "Super Series" and a "Super 7" phase. No consultation. No formal communication. No written explanation to the affected members even after two follow-up meetings.

Here is what the new format actually means. The three lowest-ranked qualifying sides now have to play a round-robin Super Series against each other first. Only one of those three advances to join the top 11 in the main groups. So you can qualify for the World Cup and still not actually play in the World Cup. You just get to play a mini-tournament to decide who gets the real spot.

Scotland and Netherlands released a joint statement and did not hold back. They called it a "setback to Associate Member cricket" that risks "undermining the progress made in recent years to grow the global game." They pointed out that some of the most iconic World Cup moments came from Associate nations beating Full Members on the biggest stage. Ireland beating Pakistan in 2007. Netherlands beating England in 2011. Those moments happened because smaller nations got to actually play.

The ICC has not responded. Not publicly, not privately, not in writing. Two meetings have been requested. Nothing has come back.These are nations with limited funding, limited resources, and players who work second jobs to represent their country at international level. They planned years around a qualification format the ICC confirmed and then scrapped without explanation 18 months before the tournament.The ICC will talk about growing the game every single chance they get. Then they do this.

The ICC just quietly changed the World Cup format 18 months before the tournament and Scotland and Netherlands are absolutely furious about it