The International Cricket Council is facing criticism over the format of the Super 8 stage at the 2026 T20 World Cup, with detractors arguing that the pre-seeding system has created an imbalance in the tournament.
Under the format, all four group winners from the first round — India, Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa — have been placed in the same Super 8 group. The second group consists entirely of runners-up: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand.
The structure guarantees that two of the top-performing teams from the opening stage will be eliminated before the semifinals, while one runner-up is assured a place in the last four.
The controversy stems from the ICC’s decision to assign fixed slots — A1, B1, C1 and D1 — to certain teams before the tournament began. Critics say that finishing first in the group stage offers little competitive advantage under the current system.
South Africa, for example, topped its group but is effectively seeded lower than New Zealand, which advanced as a runner-up but had been pre-assigned a higher slot in the Super 8 bracket.
Observers have also noted that the predetermined bracket reduces the significance of final group matches, as teams’ Super 8 placements were effectively decided before qualification was confirmed.
The format has also raised concerns in Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts of the tournament. Should Sri Lanka reach the semifinals, the current structure would require it to travel to India rather than play in Colombo, despite hosting matches throughout the tournament.
The ICC has defended the format, citing logistical requirements associated with co-hosting the tournament across India and Sri Lanka. Officials have said early venue allocation and scheduling were necessary to manage travel, broadcasting and operational planning.
The 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup is being jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the Super 8 stage set to begin this week. (Newswire)
