The article discusses the increasingly complicated formats of the ICC Cricket World Cup over the past 50 years, focusing on the implications of the current structure on tournament outcomes. It raises concerns about the upcoming 2026 Men's T20 World Cup being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, where the grouping of teams has created an unfair dynamic. Notably, it highlights that the top-performing teams, such as India and South Africa, ended up in the same Super-8 group, while runner-up teams were placed in an easier group, contradicting the meritocratic spirit of the competition.

The piece further delves into the issues raised by this year’s tournament structure, particularly how pre-seeding based on ICC rankings—rather than actual performance in the group stage—leads to a scenario where the first-place teams are seemingly penalized instead of rewarded, creating a contentious environment among fans and players alike. This ironic situation is captured in rhetorical questions posed to cricket fans regarding historical matchups, reflecting a concern about collective memory being muddied by the unpredictable tournament structures.

Finally, the article calls attention to the need for a reassessment of how ICC organizes its global competitions to prevent the dilution of competitive integrity in cricket. It suggests that unless reforms are implemented, the sport may continue to face credibility issues, and fans could remain frustrated by the outcomes of tournaments that do not reflect the merits of the participating teams.