Which Cricket Events Matter Most on the Global Stage
Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. In some countries, it even enjoys cult status. Although cricket remains less popular in Ireland than in traditional cricket nations, interest in national team matches and major competitions continues to grow. This is confirmed by cricket betting statistics at bookmakers. Today, we'll explain how the top tournaments in this exciting game are structured.
The tournaments that define cricket's biggest moments
Cricket tournaments around the world are organized by the International Cricket Council, founded in 1909. Today, it comprises 110 national unions — 12 Full Members and 98 Associate Members. Cricketing nations with Full Member status have access to official Test matches and all prestigious competitions in other formats. Incidentally, the Irish national team is part of this select group. Associate Members can also participate in major international cricket tournaments, including the World Cup, but they usually have to undergo additional selection.
ICC Cricket World Cup
The ICC World Cup is the biggest cricket event for the national team in the One Day International (ODI) format. The tournament is held only every four years, making it particularly popular. The first edition was held in 1975 in England. The most recent edition was held in 2023 in India. It was won by Australia, which also holds the record for the most titles overall (six).
The next ICC World Cup will be hosted by three countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The event is scheduled for October and November 2027. Fourteen teams will compete in the finals. The participants will be determined through the qualifying process. South Africa and Zimbabwe have already received invitations as hosts, but Namibia has yet to qualify as it is not a Full Member of the ICC. The tournament format includes a qualification stage followed by the final competition.
ICC T20 World Cup
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket tournament held every two years. It was first held in 2007 in South Africa. The current champions are India, who won the title on home soil in March 2026. This makes them a record-breaking three-time T20 World Cup champions.
The next tournament will be held in October-November 2028 in New Zealand and Australia. Twenty teams will compete in the main stage. Nine spots have already been secured by the hosts and the seven top teams at the 2026 World Cup. The remaining three spots have been awarded to the top-ranked teams from those who did not qualify, including Ireland. The remaining participants will be determined by qualifying.
ICC World Test Championship
The ICC World Test Championship is a Test cricket competition first held in 2019. Only Full Member teams participate, with the top team determined at the end of a two-year cycle of matches. Unfortunately, Ireland missed out on the previous and current World Test Championships, failing to place among the top nine teams invited. However, it will likely participate in the 2027–2029 edition, which is planned to be expanded to 12 teams.
The current champions are South Africa, who defeated Australia in the 2025 WTC final. The current season kicked off in June 2025 with a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This international cricket event will conclude in June 2027 at Lord's Cricket Ground (City of Westminster, London). The finalists will be determined by the results of the group stage, which includes 71 matches and 27 series.
The rivalries that keep cricket personal
In any team sport, rivalries generate intense fan interest. Popular cricket also boasts its share of exciting ‘derbies’ at the national team level.
The Ashes
These are regular Test matches between England and Australia, held since 1882. The name Ashes came into common usage after a satirical obituary in the British newspaper The Sporting Times, prompted by the defeat in the first series. The article expressed condolences over the ‘death’ of English cricket, whose ‘body’ was cremated, and the ashes sent to Australia. A terracotta Ashes urn soon appeared, eventually becoming the unofficial trophy of the competition.
At the time of writing, 350 matches have been played in the history of the competition. Australia won 146 matches, England won 111, and 93 ended in draws. The teams have contested 74 Ashes series, with Australia holding the advantage overall (+35 wins, −32 losses, =7 draws). The current holders of the Ashes urn (2025/26) are Australia.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a Test match series between India and Australia, named after the outstanding captains of both teams. The first edition took place in 1996/97. The competition is typically held twice every four years in each country.
Like the Ashes, this rivalry generates great interest worldwide. To date, the teams have played 17 series. So far, India has the upper hand, with 10 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw. Australia also won the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024/25, ending their long losing streak.
Asia Cup
The Asia Cup is the continent's biggest cricket event, established in 1983. One of the organizers' goals was to improve relations between individual countries through sport. Nevertheless, the tournament has provided the opportunity to regularly host exciting matches between rivals who otherwise would rarely meet, for example:
India vs. Pakistan;
India vs. Sri Lanka;
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh;
India vs. Bangladesh.
Matches between India and Pakistan are particularly notable — they are among the most intense and emotionally charged events in world sport. Unfortunately, due to the political context, meetings between these cricketing nations often transcend sport.
The franchise leagues that drive global attention
Cricket fans follow the leading national championships just as closely. Domestic franchise leagues have become a major force in the sport, drawing millions of viewers and some of the biggest names in international cricket. These competitions run throughout the year across different continents, meaning there is almost always a high-profile tournament to follow — and to bet on. Understanding the key leagues and their formats is essential for anyone looking to engage seriously with cricket betting.
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is the richest and most popular cricket league (T20 format). Founded in 2008, it has revolutionized the sport's economy, attracting top players from around the world. The IPL successfully combines competition and entertainment, but its main strength is the high level of its participants.
The tournament consists of 10 teams, which compete in a group stage and playoffs to determine the winner. The final of the current edition is scheduled for May 31. The current champion is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Big Bash, PSL, SA20, and ILT20
Other domestic leagues, played in the T20 format, are also actively developing. The top five most popular cricket tournaments also include:
Big Bash League. This tournament, featuring Australia's best teams, has been held since 2011. The current champion is Perth Scorchers.
Pakistan Super League. Founded in 2015, this tournament quickly became one of the top domestic leagues. The current champion is Peshawar Zalmi.
SA20. ‘South Africa's answer to the IPL’ was launched only in 2023, but is already generating great interest in many countries. The current champion is the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
International League T20. This tournament, held in the UAE since 2023, attracts a large number of top foreign players. The current champion is the Desert Vipers.
The most popular T20 cricket tournament in Ireland is the Inter-Provincial Series, held since 2013.
The Hundred and other fast-growth formats
Twenty20 is the most dynamic of the classic formats in which an international cricket event can be held, but other interesting variations are emerging. For example, 100-ball cricket is a game in which each team makes a maximum of 100 deliveries, significantly reducing the time. This is how it is played today in the UK professional league, The Hundred.
T10 cricket events are also growing in popularity. A match here consists of one inning, limited to 10 overs for each side. This approach is used in the ECL, Abu Dhabi T10, Lanka T10, and other domestic tournaments.
In 2026, another hybrid format, Test Twenty, was launched, promising to be popular. It combines classic and T20 formats. Essentially, it is a Test match consisting of four innings, each up to 20 overs. A quick betting tip: choose only formats you are familiar with.
Women's events reshaping the global game
Women's cricket is also experiencing a boom today. Women have the opportunity to compete in professional leagues, where top players command contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Popular cricket tournaments at the national team level are also held regularly.
Women's Cricket World Cup
The first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup took place in 1973, two years earlier than the men's edition. The competition is also held in the One Day International format, but with fewer overs. Since 2005, the final tournament has been held every four years.
The most successful team in history is Australia, having won seven times. Ireland has appeared in five World Cups, reaching the quarter-finals in 1997, their highest achievement. India, which won the 2025 World Cup on home soil, is the current champion.
Women's T20 World Cup
The first Women's T20 World Cup took place in 2009 in England. The tournament is held every two years. Australia is also the most decorated team, having won six trophies in nine editions. However, as with ODI competitions, the title currently belongs to another country. In 2024, New Zealand won the championship for the first time in its history.
In 2026, this international cricket event will be held in England and Wales, giving Irish fans the opportunity to attend the tournament in person. It's even worth it, as their national team will be participating. The 2026 Women's Cricket World Cup will take place in the summer, from June 12 to July 5.
The events that could expand cricket's reach even further
Cricket is popular in many countries, but its geographic reach clearly needs to expand. New major cricket events, capable of attracting even more spectators, could help. The sport already has a passionate following across South Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa, yet North America and Europe remain largely untapped markets. High-profile tournaments and landmark occasions — such as an Olympic debut — could be the catalyst that brings cricket to an entirely new generation of fans worldwide.
The return of the Champions Trophy
In 2025, after an eight-year hiatus, the ICC Champions Trophy was held again. This is an international ODI cricket tournament for teams, created in 1998 to promote the sport in countries that do not play Test matches. The main difference between this competition and the World Cup is its smaller number of participants and its short duration.
The 2025 Champions Trophy was held in Pakistan, but due to complications in the international situation, matches involving the Indian team were held in Dubai, UAE. This did not prevent India from winning the tournament for the third time in its history, setting a record. It is planned that the Champions Trophy will again be held regularly. The next competition is scheduled for 2029 in India.
Cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
In 2028, global cricket fans will have another exciting event in store: they will be able to see their favorite sport at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The last and, to date, only time this happened was in 1900 in Paris. This means the Great Britain men's team will have to confirm their title as reigning Olympic champions, a title they have successfully held for a record 128 years. This will also be the first women's cricket tournament.
Teams will compete in the T20 format. Six teams will compete for the medals in both the men's and women's categories. Information about the selection process and other details will be announced later. In any case, a return to the Olympics is the biggest cricket event and will certainly play a significant role in the sport's further popularization.
