[CRK] ICC Expands Women’s World Cup to 10 Teams; Cricket Eyes 2032 Olympics

[CRK]

A New Era for Women’s Cricket: The 2029 World Cup Expansion

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced a significant expansion for the women’s game, confirming that the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup will feature ten teams. This decision comes on the heels of a highly successful 2025 edition and reaffirms the governing body’s long-term commitment to elevating women’s cricket on the global stage. Since the turn of the millennium, the flagship tournament had been limited to eight teams; however, the shift to a ten-team format will increase the total number of matches from 31 to 48, providing more exposure for emerging nations.

The momentum does not stop there. The Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for next year, is also set to expand, moving from ten to twelve participating teams. This surge in interest is backed by impressive data: nearly 300,000 fans attended matches during the recent tournament, setting a new record for women’s cricket. Furthermore, viewership reached staggering heights, with nearly 500 million viewers in India alone, proving that the appetite for the women’s game is at an all-time high.

Governance and Leadership

To support this strategic growth, the ICC board has ratified the appointment of several high-profile members to the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee. The new cohort includes legends and experts such as Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards, Amol Muzumdar, Ben Sawyer, Ashley De Silva, and Sala Stella Siale-Vaea, all of whom bring vast experience to the committee’s decision-making processes.

Cricket’s Olympic Journey: From LA 2028 to Brisbane 2032

The transition of cricket into the Olympic sphere is gathering pace. The Los Angeles 2028 Games will see cricket return to the world’s biggest multi-sport stage, featuring both men’s and women’s competitions. Each event will consist of six teams, including the top-ranked side from five major regions—Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania—along with the host nation, the USA. A final sixth spot for each competition will be determined through a qualifying process, with the games slated to begin on July 12 at the purpose-built Fairgrounds Stadium.

Before the excitement of Los Angeles, cricket will also be showcased in various multi-sport regional games. This includes the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the 2027 African Games in Cairo, and the 2027 PanAm Games in Lima. Looking further ahead, the ICC has already initiated “meaningful discussions” regarding cricket’s inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. ICC leadership, including Chair Jay Shah and CEO Sanjog Gupta, have been in active consultations with the International Olympic Committee and stakeholders from both LA28 and Brisbane 2032 to refine competition formats and delivery models.

The Future of Mobile Gaming and NIL Rights

In addition to the growth of the sport on the field, the ICC has launched a formal bidding process for its mobile cricket gaming rights. This development comes amid ongoing tensions with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) regarding player Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The ICC’s move to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for video gaming rights is designed to foster global partnerships that can deliver world-class digital fan experiences.

The dispute, which has centered on whether the ICC can feature player likenesses in games without the WCA’s direct involvement, has shifted toward a model where individual member boards negotiate directly with their players. While the process is ongoing, it is estimated that at least half of the Full Member boards have already secured the necessary rights, clearing the path for a new generation of immersive cricket gaming. By balancing governance, expansion, and digital innovation, the ICC is clearly positioning cricket for a dominant decade in the global sports landscape.