ICC FTP 2027-31 Leak 2026 Version 2 Decoded

An updated version of the ICC's Future Tours Programme for the 2027-31 cycle has leaked, and the document confirms several patterns that the bilateral cricket community has been watching closely. The Pakistan-India tour windows remain null, the T20 league carve-outs have expanded, and the Big Three boards have once again locked in the dominant share of the bilateral calendar. The wider associate community has secured marginal gains, the women's calendar has been formalised at a higher level than the prior cycle, and the WTC qualification cycle has been redrawn.

This is the second leaked version of the cycle's FTP. The first version surfaced earlier in the cycle and triggered significant pushback from multiple boards. The updated version reflects some of that pushback but retains the core structural patterns that the senior boards have been pushing for.

Pakistan-India Null Windows Stay

The Pakistan-India bilateral relationship remains structurally absent from the new FTP. The two boards have not scheduled a bilateral Test, ODI, or T20I series in the 2027-31 cycle, and the only cricket between the two sides will continue to be at ICC events. The wider geopolitical context that has produced this null-window pattern for over a decade has not changed, and the ICC's calendar reflects that reality.

The commercial cost of the null window is significant. Pakistan-India bilateral cricket generates broadcast revenue at a level that exceeds almost any other bilateral pairing. Multiple broadcasters have made representations to the ICC about the absence of the series from the FTP. The two boards have not commented publicly on the leaked document.

The Asia Cup remains the operational workaround. The 2027 Asia Cup is scheduled to deliver a Pakistan-India fixture in the league phase and potentially in the knockouts, and the broadcast valuations for that tournament reflect the absence of bilateral content. The Asia Cup 2027 cycle has effectively become the primary commercial vehicle for cricket between the two sides.

T20 League Carve-Outs Expand

The FTP's T20 league protection windows have expanded in the updated version. The IPL window now formally extends across nearly ten weeks. The BBL window is protected. The CPL, SA20, ILT20, and Major League Cricket windows have been formally carved into the FTP for the first time. The Hundred has also been formally protected.

The wider implication is that the international calendar is increasingly being designed around the league cycle rather than the other way around. The senior playing groups across the full members have been pushing for this protection for years, and the leagues themselves have been negotiating with the boards for formal calendar status.

The protected windows do not prevent international cricket from being scheduled, but they do create a clear expectation that bilateral series will be avoided during the league windows. The result is a calendar where bilateral Test cricket is increasingly compressed into shorter windows, and the home boards' ability to host meaningful Test content is constrained.

The wider WTC Final 2027 cycle's qualification race will be shaped significantly by the league protection structure, with home boards strategising around when they can schedule their Test content.

Big Three Calendar Lock

The Big Three boards have once again secured the dominant share of the bilateral calendar. The India, Australia, and England bilateral tours of each other remain the most heavily scheduled bilateral content in the cycle, with the home and away series between the three boards consuming a disproportionate share of the Test cricket window.

The smaller full members have secured limited gains. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe have all received marginal increases in bilateral fixture allocation against the prior cycle, but the gap to the Big Three remains substantial. The associate community has secured the smallest gains, with sub-regional qualifier windows and a limited number of bilateral fixtures against the smaller full members.

The FTP's structural inequity has been a long-running governance issue at the ICC. The smaller boards have argued for years that the Big Three calendar lock undermines the wider Test cricket ecosystem, and the leaked document confirms that the structural pattern has not changed in the updated version.

Women's Calendar Formalisation

The women's calendar has been formalised at a higher level than the prior FTP cycle, with bilateral series, ICC events, and franchise league windows all now formally included in the document. The wider Women's Ashes 2026 cycle is reflected in the calendar with the home and away rotations protected. The WPL, WBBL, and Hundred women's competitions have all been carved into the calendar.

The wider women's cricket ecosystem has been the most positive structural story of the FTP cycle. The growth of bilateral content, the commercial expansion of franchise leagues, and the formalisation of the international calendar all combine to lift the development pipeline for the women's game.

What Happens Next And Forward Look

The ICC's official FTP publication is expected within the next quarter. The leaked version 2 document is unlikely to change significantly before publication, although individual boards may negotiate specific bilateral adjustments. The publication will be accompanied by the broadcast tender process for the major bilateral and ICC events of the cycle.

The wider strategic implication is that the international cricket calendar is now structurally locked into a pattern that prioritises the Big Three bilateral cycle and protects the T20 league windows. The bilateral content for the smaller full members has been preserved at marginal increases, and the associate calendar has been incrementally improved. The Pakistan-India null window remains the most significant absence, and the ICC events calendar has been redrawn to deliver the wider commercial requirements.

The leaked document is more than a schedule. It is the operational blueprint for the next five years of international cricket, and the patterns it confirms will shape the sport's development for the cycle ahead.