'Big Three' object to new ICC events

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 6, 2026

The International Cricket Council is exploring the addition of more multilateral tournaments in response to anticipated declines in media rights revenue, especially from its dominant Indian market. This strategy aims to diversify income sources ahead of the 2028-2032 broadcast rights auction, as current deals face uncertainty following market consolidations like the Disney Star and Viacom18 merger.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering the introduction of additional multilateral events amid concerns over the future value of its media rights, particularly in the Indian market. This potential expansion comes as part of a strategic review conducted by US consultancy McKinsey, whose full findings are set to be presented to ICC members next month.

The review was prompted by the likelihood of a significant drop in media rights revenue starting next year. The ICC currently derives the bulk of its $3.5 billion global broadcast income from a rights deal in India, where Disney Star paid $3.1 billion for coverage through 2027. However, recent market shifts—including the merger of Disney Star with Viacom18 to form JioStar—have diminished competition and raised doubts about the sustainability of the Indian agreement.

While the ICC sells broadcasting rights regionally across 11 territories, no market rivals India’s financial contribution. This imbalance has led the ICC to explore scheduling more tournaments to diversify and boost revenues. Several member nations, including England, Australia, and India, have already arranged bilateral series through 2031, reflecting ongoing international commitments despite the broader strategic review.

Key planned fixtures include the Ashes series in England next summer as the opening contest of the new World Test Championship cycle, followed by a tour of Australia in the 2029-30 season. Additionally, England is scheduled to visit India for a five-Test series in early 2028 before hosting India in 2029. These tours are part of a future tours programme (FTP) that operates on a slightly different cycle from ICC’s TV rights sales.

The forthcoming rights auction, covering 2028 to 2032, is expected to feature two ICC T20 World Cups, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 50-over World Cup. Although the final version of the FTP will be confirmed at ICC’s meeting in Bali next month, the preliminary schedule reflects an attempt to balance bilateral cricketing commitments with the introduction of additional ICC events.

Some stakeholders have expressed concerns about the proliferation of ICC events, fearing smaller cricketing nations may lose influence within the increasingly commercial framework. At the same time, others describe the initiative as a milestone for the ICC’s strategic growth.

The ICC declined to comment on the ongoing review or the proposed scheduling plans ahead of the official meeting.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.