The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing strong criticism over the format of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage. After the eight qualified teams were confirmed, social media was flooded with complaints about the ‘pre-seeding’ system used for the next round.
Under this format, all four group winners: India, Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa, have been placed together in Super 8 Group 1. The four runners-up: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand, are in Group 2. This has led to widespread debate about fairness and competitive balance.
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ICC under fire over Super 8 ‘pre-seeding’ format
Critics say the system has created a clear imbalance. The ICC had fixed positions such as A1, B1, C1 and D1 for certain teams even before the tournament began. Because of this structure, two of the best-performing teams from the group stage are guaranteed to be eliminated before the semi-finals, since all the group winners are in the same pool.
Many fans argue that finishing first in the group should provide a clear advantage. However, under this format, topping the group offers little real benefit. South Africa’s situation has also drawn attention. Although they won their group, they are treated as a lower seed because New Zealand, which finished second in their group, had already been pre-assigned a higher slot.
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Concerns over imbalance and scheduling in T20 World Cup
Another concern is that once the top eight teams are confirmed, the final group-stage matches lose importance for Super 8 placement. This reduces the excitement and drama that usually comes at the end of the group stage.
The schedule has also raised questions, especially for co-host Sri Lanka. Even if Sri Lanka reach the semi-finals, the pre-decided bracket means they would have to travel to India instead of playing in front of their home crowd in Colombo.
The ICC has defended the format, saying it was necessary due to logistical reasons. With matches being hosted across India and Sri Lanka, early planning was required. The governing body says the pre-seeding system helped manage venues and scheduling smoothly.
