Will the ODI World Cup 2027 Be Reduced to 12 Teams? Who Could Miss Out?

The ODI World Cup is amongst the flagship events of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament will be played next year in the African continent, which has some of the most beautiful cricket stadiums in the world. However, recent reports suggest that the no. of teams will be reduced.

10 teams took part in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was played in India. The ICC had already announced that 14 teams will play in the ODI World Cup 2027 but the plans seem to changed for now.

Will ODI World Cup 2027 Have 12 Teams?

According to the cricket journalist Tristan Lavalette, there are discussions to reduce the ODI World Cup 2027 teams to 12. This is in contrast to ICC's commitment to have 14 teams in the tournament earlier.

The reason for the teams reduction is unknown yet, however, it is believed that it can be due to the big difference between the top and lower ranked sides. With more teams, there will be more one-sided games, resulting in the broadcaster's loss.

The ODI World Cup usually features the best cricket teams in the world. The decision to have 14 teams in the ODI World Cup 2027 was announced by the ICC in November 2021, which was in sharp contrast to the no. of participating teams in the 2023 edition. This move was widely hailed by the fans due to the expansion of the tournament.

Currently, this proposal is in consideration and if it gets implemented, the ICC would need to revise their plans. It will also mean that the ICC World Cup qualification scenario will be changed as less teams will be able to participate.

Which Teams Will Miss Out If It Is a 12 Team World Cup?

As per the current qualification system, co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe have directly qualified for the ODI World Cup 2027. Despite being a host nation, Namibia's place is not guaranteed as it is not a full member nation.

The remaining places for the 14-team World Cup will be decided through direct qualification and the Cricket World Cup qualifiers. Apart from the hosts, the top 8 teams in the ICC ODI rankings as per March 31, 2027 will directly qualify for the tournament.

The remaining places will be decided through the qualifiers. Currently, associate nations like Netherlands, Scotland, and Ireland might miss out on the qualification if the no. of teams get reduced.

However, Namibia will suffer the most as it will be a home World Cup for them and an important one as well. They are currently 18th in the ICC ODI rankings and will need to rise above their weight in order to secure their qualification.