New Delhi: The International Cricket Council made a significant announcement today, confirming that the Women’s ODI World Cup will feature ten teams when it returns in 2029. This marks a notable shift from the eight-team format that has remained unchanged since 2000.
The decision comes on the back of a wildly successful 2025 Women’s World Cup, which shattered attendance and viewership records. Close to 300,000 fans packed stadiums throughout the tournament the highest attendance figure ever recorded for any women’s cricket event globally. The TV numbers proved even more impressive with nearly 500 million viewers tuning in from India alone.
These aren’t just numbers on paper. They represent a fundamental shift in how cricket fans engage with the women’s game. Stadium atmosphere during key matches rivaled anything seen in men’s tournaments and broadcasters reported sustained viewership throughout rather than just for the final.
The expansion means the 2029 tournament will see 48 matches compared to the 31 games played this year. That’s a substantial increase in cricket on offer, giving more teams a platform on the world stage and fans considerably more action to follow.
But 2029 isn’t the only expansion on the horizon. Next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup will jump from 10 to 12 participating teams, continuing the momentum from the ODI format’s success. The ICC had originally promised this growth back on International Women’s Day 2021 and they’re now delivering on those commitments.
The governing body also added fresh expertise to its Women’s Cricket Committee. The new appointments include some recognizable names India’s Mithali Raj brings her experience as one of the format’s all-time greats, while England’s Charlotte Edwards adds perspective from both playing and coaching at the highest level. Ashley De Silva, Amol Muzumdar, Ben Sawyer and Sala Stella Siale-Vaea round out the additions, bringing diverse viewpoints from different cricket regions.
Cricket Returns to Olympics with Clear Format
Meanwhile the board revealed specific details about cricket’s Olympic return at Los Angeles 2028. The event will feature 28 games across men’s and women’s competitions, with six teams competing in each category. The qualification system prioritizes regional representation the top-ranked team from each of the five ICC regions gets automatic entry, along with hosts USA.
One additional spot remains available through a qualification tournament, though the ICC hasn’t released details on how that qualifier will work. Games begin July 12 at Fairgrounds Stadium a purpose-built venue sitting roughly 50 kilometers outside Los Angeles.
Cricket’s Olympic journey doesn’t stop there. Discussions have already started about including the sport in Brisbane 2032. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta reportedly told board members he’s had “meaningful discussions” with Brisbane organizers about cricket’s place in those Games. Alongside ICC chair Jay Shah, Gupta recently met with Olympic officials in Lausanne, Switzerland, where they covered everything from competition formats to qualification scenarios.
Before the Olympics, cricket will appear at several multi-sport events. The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan will feature cricket, as will the 2027 African Games in Cairo and the 2027 PanAm Games in Lima, Peru. Each appearance helps build cricket’s profile beyond its traditional strongholds.
Gaming Rights Create New Revenue Stream
In other business, the ICC confirmed it’s launching a tender process for mobile cricket gaming rights. This initiative has caused some friction with the World Cricketers’ Association over name, image and likeness rights for players. The ICC’s approach involves member boards negotiating directly with their players rather than going through the WCA which represents about 600 players globally.
The board started an Expression of Interest process back in June. Since then, member boards have been working to secure NIL rights from their players. Early estimates suggest at least half of the ICC’s Full Member nations have made progress on those agreements, though exact figures remain unclear.
This gaming venture represents a significant potential revenue stream for cricket, tapping into the massive mobile gaming market where cricket-themed games already have substantial followings. The tender process should attract major gaming companies looking to partner with the ICC on what could become cricket’s most popular digital product.
The announcements reflect an organization trying to capitalize on growing interest in cricket, particularly the women’s game, while also positioning itself in new markets through gaming and multi-sport events. Whether the expansion maintains the competitive quality fans expect from World Cups remains to be seen, but the ICC clearly believes the women’s game is ready for a bigger stage.
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