WTC likely to feature 2 groups of 6 teams from 2027-29 cycle: Reports

Overview

• World Test Championship could expand to 12 teams from the 2027-29 cycle
• Teams like Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland could feature in the WTC
• If ICC approves, the existing format of the tournament is likely to be scrapped

The World Test Championship could have a major change in the format and the number of teams from the 2027-29 cycle. The existing format of home-away fixtures could change, as all 12 Test-playing nations could potentially be involved in the new format. If ICC approves the new format, two groups of six teams could feature in the 2027-29 cycle.

The current WTC format is such that a team faces three teams each at home and away in a cycle of two years. While not all series get featured in the WTC, the majority of series are a part of the tournament, and results of each of these matches have a consequence on the eventual outcome of a cycle. As of 2025, only nine teams feature in a WTC cycle.

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India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, and Bangladesh have featured in the World Test Championship in the first four cycles. ICC reportedly wants to change the current system and include all Test-playing nations in the tournament, in an attempt to make WTC and Test cricket better.

Will Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan make their WTC debuts in the 2027-29 cycle?

Teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan have never featured in a WTC cycle due to two major reasons. Among them, Zimbabwe was stripped of its Test status die to corruption in the national body and was not even allowed to play a Test match by the ICC for nearly a decade. 

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On the other hand, Afghanistan and Ireland got their Test status in the last 10 years and were fairly young for the format. However, things could change from the 2027-29 cycle, as ICC reportedly wants to include them in the WTC, dividing them into two groups of six teams based on rankings.