The International Cricket Council has announced major changes to women's cricket tournaments and initiated a bidding process for an official mobile cricket game. The Women's ODI World Cup will expand from eight to ten teams starting in 2029, while the Women's T20 World Cup will grow to twelve teams next year. The 2029 ODI tournament will feature 48 matches, up from 31 in the recent edition. This expansion follows the 2025 World Cup's record-breaking success, which attracted nearly 300,000 stadium attendees and approximately 500 million television viewers in India. The ICC Board has also approved new appointments to the Women's Cricket Committee. Additionally, the council confirmed plans to launch a tender process for video gaming rights, addressing ongoing disputes with the World Cricketers' Association regarding players' Name, Image, and Likeness rights.
Tournament Growth and Mobile Game Bidding Plans
The expanded 2029 Women's ODI World Cup represents the first increase in team participation since 2000, when the tournament was limited to eight nations. The new format provides opportunities for developing cricket countries to compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, the ICC confirmed it will issue an Invitation to Tender for Video Gaming Rights, aiming to deliver improved digital fan experiences. This move addresses tensions with the World Cricketers' Association over players' Name, Image, and Likeness rights. The WCA currently holds NIL rights for approximately 600 players and contests the ICC's gaming plans. The council ruled earlier that individual member boards must negotiate NIL rights directly with their players rather than through the association.
Source: Link