Cricket World Cup in fresh shake-up with India v Pakistan double on cards

The International Cricket Council is considering a radical restructuring of the World Cup format that could see India and Pakistan play each other twice during the tournament, a proposal that has divided the sport's governing bodies and thrilled broadcasters.

Under the plan, the group stage would be reorganised to guarantee that cricket's most valuable fixture — an India-Pakistan match, which regularly draws television audiences in excess of 500 million — takes place at least once in the group phase and potentially again in the knockout rounds. The proposal would effectively abandon the current format, in which the two teams meet only if they are drawn in the same group or both progress to the semi-finals.

The commercial logic is straightforward. The 2025 Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan generated more advertising revenue than the rest of the tournament combined. Broadcasters, who pay billions for the rights, have made clear that they expect the ICC to maximise the number of premium fixtures. An India-Pakistan double-header would be the most valuable property in the sport.

Critics argue that the proposal undermines the sporting integrity of the tournament by giving two teams a structural advantage and turning the World Cup into a television product rather than a genuine competition. Several smaller cricketing nations have expressed concern that the restructuring would reduce their chances of facing top-tier opposition and, by extension, their share of revenue and exposure.

The ICC board is expected to vote on the proposal at its next meeting. The outcome is likely to depend on whether the financial argument — which benefits all members through the ICC's revenue-sharing model — overcomes concerns about competitive balance and the message it sends about the sport's priorities.