The International Cricket Council is considering significant changes to the international schedule, including multilateral tournaments, continental events, a T20 World Club Championship involving franchise sides, designated periods for different formats, and potential reductions in the duration of one-day internationals.

Discussions among the 12 full member nations are set for the ICC annual general meeting in Edinburgh this Wednesday, forming part of a strategic review led by McKinsey consultants.

Although the process remains in its initial phases, the ICC is promoting bold concepts aimed at ensuring the sustained viability of Test matches, T20s and ODIs amid growing competition from franchise leagues.

The current future tours programme runs until next year, while major events including World Cups, the World Test Championship and bilateral fixtures among England, India and Australia extend through 2031, meaning any revisions would apply only afterward.

After recent emphasis on refining the World Test Championship structure, the ICC now prefers a broader, forward-looking framework to support all three international formats effectively.

Besides establishing fixed windows, such as confining ODIs to the 18 months before a World Cup, bolder proposals include shortening ODI matches, while the body also evaluates expanding its event roster since bilateral series excluding England, India and Australia offer limited commercial return.

Although no additional global tournaments are planned within the existing four-year cycle that features the 50-over World Cup, the Champions Trophy and dual T20 World Cups for men and women, the ICC may introduce further multilateral competitions.

Ideas floated include continental championships like the biennial Asia Cup involving India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal, together with a potential ICC role in organising a World Club Championship.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa previously ran a T20 Champions League for franchise teams from 2009 to 2014, yet it ended after six seasons owing to modest commercial interest.

Any ICC oversight of bilateral or multilateral series would face resistance from England, India and Australia seeking to retain revenue control, yet fixed windows for each format would gain wider support, including from players as recommended in a World Cricketers Association report last year.

The AGM will also address expanding the World Test Championship to 12 teams for the 2027-2029 cycle, potentially including Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan if one-off Tests qualify for points, with a final format decision due in November.

The ICC was approached for comment.