![ICC to relaunch a major global tournament [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1780202763181_iccglobaltournamentindiapakistan.jpg?type=hq)
ICC to relaunch a major global tournament [Source: AFP]
The ICC has decided to relaunch one of the major global tournaments without India and Pakistan, two of the biggest cricketing nations in Asia.
The ICC board members met in Ahmedabad on Saturday, a day before the high-octane IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.
One of the key agendas of the meeting was the reinstatement of the Global Qualifiers, a tournament that the ICC used to conduct until the 2019 T20 World Cup edition.
According to Cricbuzz, the apex cricketing body has decided to resume the global competition for the upcoming T20 World Cup editions.
ICC global qualifiers were held back in 2019
The last edition of the ICC global qualifiers was held in 2019 to finalise the associate teams for the 2021 T20 World Cup.
A single tournament, comprising the top associate teams from each continent, was held in the UAE, with the Netherlands finishing the competition as the champions.
14 teams were divided into two groups, with each side playing six matches in the league stage. The top four teams from both groups combined entered the semifinals, and the Netherlands took on Papua New Guinea in the final.
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The Dutch qualified for the main event alongside Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Oman, Scotland and Namibia, where they participated in the qualifying event for the Super 12 stage.
However, the ICC scrapped the global qualifiers after its 2019 edition, replacing it with regional and sub-regional qualifiers. For instance, eight qualifying teams for the 2026 T20 World Cup edition were determined through regional qualifiers for the Americas (Canada), Europe (Italy and the Netherlands), Africa (Zimbabwe and Namibia), Asia (Nepal) and East Asia (UAE and Oman).
ICC considers relaunching global qualifiers
In a dramatic turn of events, the ICC, chaired by Jay Shah, is contemplating reintroducing the global qualifiers ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cups.
A massive surge in the cricketing fraternity's interest in watching associate nations play is believed to be the reason behind the ICC's U-turn. As revealed by Cricbuzz, the ICC discontinued the global qualifiers after its 2019 edition due to a sharp decline in the viewership of the tournament.
However, the Jay Shah-led governing body is planning to relaunch the global tournament, with the audience showering love on most of the associate teams, including Nepal, the United States and the Netherlands.
So, the ICC aims to capitalise on the opportunity by conducting a full-fledged tournament for the top associate teams.
Therefore, teams like India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, which qualify for the main event by virtue of their positions in the ICC T20I rankings, won't be part of it.
When will the ICC resume the Global Qualifiers?
The previous edition of the ICC Global Qualifiers was played in 2019. Fourteen teams crossed swords in 51 matches, including the final, across two cricketing venues in Dubai.
However, when the ICC will resume the global tournament has yet to be announced publicly. The Cricbuzz report states that the tournament will likely be reinstated after the 2028 T20 World Cup, as some of the regional qualification events for the marquee tournament have already kick-started.
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