ICC Board Meets in Bali to Decide Franchise League Rules, WTC Future

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opened its final round of board and committee meetings for 2026 in Bali, Indonesia, with franchise league regulation, World Test Championship scheduling and governance reform leading a packed agenda. The sessions began on November 11 and run through November 15, with eight ICC committees meeting before the ICC Board and the International Cricket Council Business Corporation (IBC) Board review their proposals.

A central item is the rapid expansion of franchise cricket leagues worldwide. The Franchise League Review Group, led by former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, will present its initial recommendations on tightening the ICC's rules for approving and overseeing these competitions. The group was formed in July 2026 to address the pressures created by the fast growth of franchise leagues and to protect the existing structure of the international game.

Governance will also feature prominently, with a committee chaired by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia presenting its first set of recommendations after a review of the ICC's governance system. Separately, the board will examine proposed fixtures for the 2027–29 and 2029–31 World Test Championship cycles, along with possible windows for major men's international tournaments between 2028 and 2035.

The ICC Development Committee will discuss qualification systems for future international events, aiming to make competitions more competitive and to create clearer opportunities for emerging cricket nations. The board will also review proposals to support Afghan refugee women cricketers through the Development Pathway Programme, and will consider the ICC's Decision Review System (DRS) Accreditation Programme.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the meetings give cricket boards and officials from different countries a chance to work together on the sport's future. He also pointed to Indonesia's growing cricket infrastructure, saying that holding the meetings in Bali would help develop the game in emerging markets. Indonesia is building the Bali International Oval, which is expected to host the ICC Women's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in 2027.

The meetings close on November 15, and the proposals and recommendations are expected to shape the ICC's plans for both international and franchise cricket in the years ahead.