Cricket fans are reeling after leaked documents allegedly reveal that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a massive overhaul of the T20 World Cup format for 2026, a move that could transform the tournament and change the way T20 cricket’s biggest prize is contested!
According to insiders who claim to have seen early ICC drafts, the new format proposes expanding the Super Stage from two groups to three groups of four teams, dramatically increasing the number of matches in the second round and creating more high-stakes clashes between top-ranked sides. The leaked papers suggest the aim is to make every Super Stage game a virtual knockout, adding intensity and unpredictability — but the proposal is already dividing fans and experts alike.
One major change includes the removal of the traditional “Super 12” format, which has been used since the 2021 edition. Instead, the 20 qualifying teams would start in four groups of five during the first round, but the top three from each would move into a Super 9 stage split into three new groups — effectively rewarding consistent performers while giving dark horses a bigger chance to upset the favorites.
A senior ICC official, speaking off the record, revealed:
“This shake-up is about maximizing excitement and revenue. More big matches mean better crowds and higher broadcasting numbers. But it also levels the playing field for emerging teams.”
Crucially, the leaked plan hints that the semifinals will no longer be set by fixed brackets, but by a new points-based ranking among group winners and runners-up — a move expected to reduce dead rubbers and keep the race for qualification alive until the last Super 9 games.
Fans are already split online, with hashtags like #T20FormatChange, #WorldCupDrama, and #ICCTwist2026 trending within hours. Supporters believe more top-tier clashes early on will deliver blockbuster cricket, while critics argue the added complexity could confuse viewers and unfairly punish teams who slip up in a single match.
Former cricketers have weighed in too:
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Michael Vaughan called it “the shake-up T20 desperately needs.”
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Harbhajan Singh, however, slammed the rumored plan as “unnecessary tinkering with a format that already delivers thrills.”
The ICC has declined to comment officially, but an announcement could come during the annual board meeting next month. If these leaks prove accurate, the 2026 T20 World Cup could be the most unpredictable, exciting, and controversial tournament cricket has ever seen.