The ICC’s final board and committee meetings of 2026 opened in Bali on Wednesday, November 11, and run until Sunday, November 15. Three things on the table matter most to fans in India and Pakistan: who plays whom in the next two World Test Championship cycles, the calendar windows for every men’s ICC event from 2028 to 2035, and new rules for the growing number of franchise leagues.
The short version
Nothing has been decided yet. These are proposals going in front of eight committees and then the ICC Board. Expect the outcomes after the board meets at the end of the week.
What is actually on the agenda
According to the ICC’s own media release, the key items are:
- WTC fixtures: match-ups for the 2027-29 and 2029-31 Test Championship cycles will be proposed.
- Men’s events 2028-35: windows for all established men’s ICC events in that period will be submitted for approval.
- Franchise leagues: a review group set up in July 2026 gives its first feedback on updating the ICC’s rules for sanctioning leagues.
- Governance: a separate review committee, also formed in July, brings its first recommendations.
- Development: qualification paths for emerging nations, next steps for the task force on Afghan refugee women cricketers, and a DRS accreditation programme.
ICC chairman Jay Shah said the meetings show “the strength of the ICC” as the game’s governing body.
The money question hanging over Bali
The release is upbeat. The background is less so. In a preview piece, Wisden reported that a strategic review of the global game, put together by McKinsey, will be a main talking point. Wisden also cited a reported document suggesting the ICC has warned members of a 30 per cent fall in revenue in 2028 once media deals are renewed. That figure has not been confirmed by the ICC, so treat it as a report, not a fact.
Wisden put Indian broadcast rights at about 75 per cent of the ICC’s media rights value, and India’s share of ICC revenue in the 2024-27 model at 38.5 per cent. That is why any change to how money is shared starts and ends with the BCCI.
Why India and Pakistan fans should care
| Agenda item | What it could mean for India | What it could mean for Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| WTC 2027-29 and 2029-31 match-ups | Which big home and away series India get in the next two cycles | Whether Pakistan get more Tests against top sides after a poor current cycle |
| Men’s event windows 2028-35 | How the IPL window fits around a busier ICC calendar | How the PSL slot is protected or squeezed |
| Franchise league rules | Little direct change, as BCCI does not release players to overseas leagues | Players’ release for foreign leagues and NOC rules could tighten |
The table is our reading of the agenda, not a list of confirmed outcomes.
One thing to be clear on: the next ODI World Cup is not up for discussion. The 2027 tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia runs from October 2 to November 21, 2027, and the hosts for later events are already set. Our guide to future World Cup hosts covers that.
Our take
The headline items sound technical, but the WTC fixture list is the one to watch. It decides which marquee Test series happen for the next four years. For Pakistan, a better fixture list will not fix results, but more Tests against the top teams would help a side that is rebuilding. The franchise review matters too, though do not expect a sudden crackdown. Wisden notes the big boards resist giving the ICC more control, and that has not changed.
FAQs
When will we know the decisions?
The meetings end on Sunday, November 15 with the ICC Board. Announcements usually follow the board meeting.
Is a two-tier Test system being decided?
Not according to anything published so far. The official agenda only mentions WTC match-ups for the next two cycles.
Sources
- ICC: Board and committee meetings begin in Bali
- Wisden: Why this week’s ICC meeting will decide the sport’s future
- The Tribune (ANI): WTC, ICC events in focus in Bali
About this story. Written by the T20 Cricinfo desk from the sources listed above. The agenda comes from the ICC’s release; the revenue figures are Wisden’s reporting and have not been confirmed by the ICC, and no decisions had been announced when this was written.
