The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has delivered a blunt assessment of the state of global cricket, calling for sweeping changes to the sport’s financial structure, governance, and scheduling.
In a report following a six-month review, the WCA—cricket’s global players' body—highlighted critical flaws in the way the game is being managed. Among its key findings, the report noted that 83% of global cricket revenue is concentrated among England, India, and Australia, while nations ranked 13 to 108 receive just 2% of the financial pie. Additionally, 11 of the last 13 major ICC tournaments have been won by the same dominant teams, underscoring a lack of competitive balance.
The WCA recommended the creation of a Global Growth and Development Fund, supported by a centralized pooled rights model, to ensure that cricket’s financial structure promotes global growth and competitive fairness. The report also suggested that ICC revenue distribution should occur within set minimum and maximum parameters, with stricter regulation on how funds are utilized across all member nations.
Beyond financial reform, the WCA criticized the scheduling of international and domestic leagues, arguing that they should complement rather than compete against each other. The body proposed a scheduling overhaul starting in 2028 to allow international cricket and domestic T20 leagues to coexist, ensuring the long-term sustainability of both formats.
"This will allow international cricket to co-exist with the growing DT20 leagues—rather than compete with them—thereby ensuring its future survival. It will also ensure most of the calendar remains for the market to continue to evolve and innovate," the report stated.
The report also took aim at the ICC’s governance, accusing the global governing body of failing to modernize cricket’s regulations to reflect the sport’s evolving landscape. It proposed the establishment of a Global Game Leadership Committee as an interim body to recommend structural reforms to the ICC.
“Global cricket needs to come together with clear leadership to reflect the sport’s changing landscape and prevent fragmentation through modernising the ICC to ensure it is empowered to lead the global game and built on shared ownership, independence, and representation reflective of the whole sport,” the report stated.
WCA chairman Heath Mills emphasized that the report was necessary to address growing concerns within the game, stating that there is widespread demand for reform.
“This process has brought to light an almost game-wide appetite for change and a need to address the significant issues with the game’s global structure. Whilst there is no silver bullet, the report defines the trends and major issues facing the sport at a global level, along with some recommended solutions, intended to be both aspirational and realistic," Mills said.
Mills also reiterated the players' vested interest in the sport’s long-term health and pledged to engage in discussions on the report’s findings in the coming months.