ICC’s 2032–35 Cricket Calendar Set to Feature a Global Event Every Year
The International Cricket Council’s members are expected to approve a new schedule of major tournaments for 2032 to 2035 at their meeting in Bali, extending the global cricket calendar beyond the current cycle, which concludes with the 2031 ODI World Cup in India and Bangladesh.
Plans outlined ahead of the meeting point to a major international event in every year of the next cycle. The proposed programme includes two T20 World Cups, an eight-team Champions Trophy, two World Test Championship finals and an ODI World Cup. While the broad sequence and some tournament windows have emerged, the ICC has yet to announce venues for any of the events—and key details remain open.
Proposed schedule for the 2032–35 cycle
The cycle is expected to begin with a T20 World Cup in October or November 2032. No host country or venue has been identified, and the tournament’s final dates have not been confirmed.
Two global events are planned for 2033: the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June, followed by the Champions Trophy in October. The ICC has not named a venue for either event. It has also not clarified the Champions Trophy format, although the tournament is currently planned as an eight-team competition.
A second T20 World Cup is scheduled for 2034, with July identified as the proposed window. The cycle would then conclude in 2035 with another WTC final and the ODI World Cup. Unlike the T20 events and the two 2033 tournaments, no specific window has been indicated for either 2035 competition.
Unconfirmed windows leave room for speculation
The absence of dates and host venues for several tournaments is likely to prompt discussion among cricket boards, broadcasters and supporters. However, an unconfirmed window should not be treated as evidence that a particular country has secured hosting rights. The ICC has reportedly not made venue decisions for any of the events in the proposed schedule.
England may nevertheless attract attention because it is due to host the WTC finals in 2027, 2029 and 2031. A June final in 2033 would fall during the English cricket season, making the country an obvious subject of prediction and speculation. The July window proposed for the 2034 T20 World Cup may also invite questions about possible hosts, but the ICC has not indicated that the United Kingdom—or any other nation—is being considered for that event.
Hosting decisions involve more than seasonal timing. The ICC typically weighs venue readiness, commercial opportunities, travel logistics, local infrastructure and the availability of suitable dates in crowded domestic and international schedules. Those factors will matter especially in years featuring multiple major competitions.
Busy years could reshape the international schedule
The proposed 2033 calendar stands out because it places two global events in the same year, with the WTC final in June and the Champions Trophy in October. That gap could give teams time to shift from Test cricket to a limited-overs tournament, but it would still require careful coordination with bilateral series and domestic leagues.
The potential 2035 double-header is less defined. With both the WTC final and ODI World Cup listed for that year, the timing and spacing of the events will be important for players and boards. A final schedule would need to account for preparation periods, player workloads and the practical demands of moving teams and supporters between venues.
For fans, the annual-event approach promises a steady stream of high-profile cricket. It could also make long-term planning more important: national teams may need to balance Test, ODI and T20 priorities across a cycle in which major tournaments appear every year. Broadcasters and sponsors, meanwhile, will be watching for clarity on dates and hosts before making detailed plans.
WTC matchups and franchise-league rules also on the agenda
The Bali meeting is also expected to approve the matchups for the 2027–29 and 2029–31 World Test Championship cycles. These decisions will help shape the Test programme leading into the finals and give participating boards a clearer framework for arranging their schedules.
Another major topic is the work of the Franchise League Review Group. The ICC Board is expected to review the group’s recommendations on the framework used to sanction franchise competitions. The review comes as leagues continue to expand across different countries and seasons, creating new opportunities for players while increasing competition for available dates.
The ICC has said the group is examining ways to strengthen its existing regulations and address challenges linked to the growing number of franchise leagues. Its stated objective is to protect and reinforce cricket’s wider ecosystem. Questions for the review may include how leagues are assessed, how their calendars interact with international cricket and what safeguards are needed for players and national boards.
The group is led by Tamim Iqbal of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is among its members. Any changes to the approval framework could influence how future competitions are evaluated, although the details will depend on the recommendations adopted by the ICC Board.
Revenue distribution expected to be approved
The meeting is also expected to approve the distribution of revenue for the current cycle. Around US$650 million is available to be shared among ICC members, with the allocation expected to follow the existing revenue-sharing formula.
That funding is significant for boards with different levels of commercial income, as it can support domestic competitions, player development, facilities and the organisation of international cricket. The formula’s continuation would provide members with a familiar basis for planning, though the final distribution details will be closely watched across the game.
For now, the proposed 2032–35 calendar offers a broad outline rather than a complete fixture plan. The Bali meeting could establish the next stage of planning, but venues, precise dates and tournament details remain unresolved. Until the ICC confirms those decisions, predictions about hosts and scheduling should be viewed as informed speculation—not official announcements.
