The ICC insists its newly-approved T20 World Cup format is about giving emerging nations a better chance to stay alive longer in the tournament. Which is fair enough. But cricket fans aren’t stupid. The first thing many noticed wasn’t the Super 10 stage. It wasn’t the Eliminators either. It was the possibility of squeezing another India-Pakistan game into the tournament schedule.
New rules if were at T20 World Cup 2026?
Had these rules existed at the 2026 T20 World Cup, that’s exactly what would’ve happened. India and Pakistan already met once during the group stage. India won that contest comfortably and went on to top Group A with four wins from four matches. Pakistan followed them into the Super Eights after finishing second. Under the format used in 2026, Pakistan’s campaign ended in the Super Eights. India progressed to the semi-finals and eventually won the title. End of story.
Instead of a Super Eight, there will now be a Super 10 consisting of two groups of five teams. The winners of both groups qualify directly for the semi-finals. However, teams finishing second and third do not go home. Instead:
- 2nd place in Group A plays 3rd place in Group B
- 2nd place in Group B plays 3rd place in Group A
Those matches will be called Eliminators, with the winners advancing to the semi-finals. Had this system been in place in 2026, India and Pakistan would have been on a collision course.
India finished second in Super Eight Group 1 behind South Africa. Pakistan, meanwhile, finished third in Super Eight Group 2 behind England and New Zealand.
| Eliminator | Teams |
|---|---|
| Eliminator 1 | India (2nd Group 1) vs Pakistan (3rd Group 2) |
| Eliminator 2 | New Zealand (2nd Group 2) vs West Indies (3rd Group 1) |
Cricket
Unpopular Opinion: New ICC World Cup formats nothing but a ploy for more IND vs PAK matches
