Counties approve format overhaul for white-ball competitions from 2026

By Alex, CricTips Editorial Team · How we predict.

Counties Approve Format Overhaul for White-Ball Competitions from 2026

The Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCs) have agreed to changes in the formats of the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup in both men's and women's competitions, aimed at improving player welfare, intensifying local rivalries, and streamlining scheduling.

Men's T20 Blast

• The group stage will be reduced from 14 to 12 matches, with three groups of six counties.
• The quarter-finals and Finals Day will be staged before The Hundred.

Women's T20 Blast

• Yorkshire will be promoted from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in 2026, creating an even nine-team split across the two tiers.
• The T20 Blast Finals Day (Tier 1) will feature two semi-finals and a final, while Tier 2 will have a single league with eight matches per team and a three-team Finals Day.

Women's One-Day Cup

• Tier 1 will have 16 group-stage matches, introducing an Eliminator between second and third place before the final.
• Tier 2 will have eight matches per team, with the top four reaching the semi-finals.

The changes aim to improve player welfare, intensify local rivalries, and streamline scheduling. The DPP steering group will now review the County Championship and men's One-Day Cup as part of its broader work to strengthen all domestic competitions.