The ICC Cricket World Cup: History, Format, and Global Impact

The Cricket World Cup sits at the top of the ODI pyramid. It is a four-year cycle that draws massive global viewership. Every four years, the sport’s elite gather to decide who holds the title. The men’s tournament runs under the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC has controlled the event since the women’s governing body merged with them in 2005. Before that merger, the International Women’s Cricket Council ran its own separate championship. Now, both streams fall under one roof. The men’s edition is the premier contest in one-day international cricket. It is also one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet. The stakes are high. The history is deep. The audience is vast.