The ICC announced a sweeping set of governance and playing-condition updates after its Board Meetings concluded in Ahmedabad. The meetings were held alongside the IPL 2026 final on Sunday, where Gujarat Titans took on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Alongside structural decisions to strengthen how cricket is administered, the ICC also outlined steps designed to support women’s cricket and improve the way global competitions are scheduled and managed. The Board’s updates were also linked to recommendations coming out of the Chief Executives Meeting.
Quick facts
- ICC Board Meetings finished in Ahmedabad on Sunday after the IPL 2026 final between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Trial of a pink ball in Tests is approved, but only with both teams’ agreement before a match or series.
- Match officials will be able to use Hawk-Eye data when assessing illegal bowling actions.
- Research will be carried out on lighting technology to cut time lost to poor light, with ICC co-funding alongside MCC.
- Head coaches and their designated staff can consult with teams during scheduled drinks intervals.
- T20I matches will mandate 15-minute intervals.
- Batters must be prepared to resume play when it restarts.
- Legside wides trial becomes permanent; other MCC Laws changes take effect from October 1, 2026.
- ICC will form a committee to assess harmonising franchise cricket with the international calendar.
- ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 dates changed to February 14-28, 2027.
- Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 will be piloted as a 10-team event (five Full Members and five Associates).
- Global Qualifier for ICC Men’s T20 World Cups to be established for a 16-team pathway.
- Cricket Canada suspended from ICC membership with immediate effect over serious breaches.
The ICC Board also cleared the way for a Test-playing experiment involving a pink ball, aimed at maximising time on the field if bad light is expected. The condition is clear: the trial can only happen if both sides give their consent and agree to the arrangement ahead of the start of the match or the series.
In officiating, match officials will gain access to Hawk-Eye data when deciding whether an illegal bowling action needs to be reported. The ICC also backed further study into lighting systems for match officials and venues, with the goal of reducing the amount of cricket lost due to poor illumination.
The ICC said it will co-fund research and development projects with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), linking the science side of the game to on-field decision-making.
Changes to playing conditions
New playing-condition updates will also reshape how teams use breaks during matches. Head coaches and their appointed representatives will be allowed to consult with their respective squads during scheduled drinks intervals.
For T20I cricket, the ICC mandated 15-minute intervals, while also requiring batters to be ready as soon as play is due to resume. In addition, the legside wides trial has been given permanent status.
Beyond the trial rules, the remaining alterations under the MCC Laws of Cricket are scheduled to come into effect on October 1, 2026.
The ICC Board further signalled that it is monitoring the business side of the sport closely, particularly the growing spread of franchise cricket. It resolved to create a committee tasked with evaluating how franchise competitions can be harmonised with the international calendar within the current framework.
ICC chairman Jay Shah said the discussions in Ahmedabad reinforced the body’s focus on governance and administration, while also supporting cricket’s expansion worldwide. He added that the decisions taken span women’s cricket, emerging nations and the management of franchise tournaments, with the aim of keeping the sport fair, competitive and engaging for fans globally.
In women’s cricket scheduling, the ICC approved a shift to the window for the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027. The tournament will move from the June–July slot to take place between February 14 and February 28, 2027.
The ICC Board also backed the launch of a Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 pilot, set as a 10-team competition. The field will include five Full Members and five Associate Members, with selection based on rankings and prior qualification for the T20 World Cup.
For men’s T20 cricket pathways, the ICC approved a recommendation to create a Global Qualifier for ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. The tournament management has been instructed to finalise both the competition format and the qualification route for a 16-team Global Qualifier.
Cricket Canada suspended
In disciplinary and governance action, Cricket Canada has been suspended from ICC membership with immediate effect after serious breaches of its membership obligations. Even during the suspension period, Canada’s national representative teams will remain eligible to take part in ICC events.
The ICC said Cricket Canada will be allowed to access ICC funding through a controlled mechanism, overseen by ICC management, and restricted to approved national team programmes. The funding is intended to support ongoing participation and development while the matter is addressed.
The ICC also outlined reinstatement conditions for Cricket Canada, aimed at fixing the governance and administrative issues identified by the Board. Progress against those conditions will be monitored by the ICC Normalisation Committee, backed by ICC management, and any return to membership will depend on the Board being satisfied that all conditions have been fully met.
