CricBengal.com | Sports Desk
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is reportedly the leading candidate to host the final of the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be jointly staged by Australia and New Zealand. According to Australian broadcaster 9News, the iconic venue could host the tournament’s title match for the second time.
The same report suggests that Perth’s Optus Stadium is in contention for one of the semi-finals, while the other could be held in New Zealand. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to officially confirm the full list of venues or the allocation of matches between the co-hosts.
MCG Could Host Its Second Men’s T20 World Cup Final
With a capacity of around 100,000 spectators, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the most recognised sporting venues in the world. It previously hosted the men’s T20 World Cup final in 2022, when England defeated Pakistan to lift the trophy.
The MCG also has a long record of hosting major international finals. It staged the men’s ODI World Cup finals in 1992 and 2015, as well as the Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2020.
If the latest report proves accurate, the MCG will host another major global cricket final in 2028.
Perth and New Zealand in Contention for Semi-finals
According to the 9News report, Optus Stadium in Perth is a leading contender to stage one of the two semi-finals. New Zealand is expected to host the other, although the specific venue has not been identified.
Perth’s time zone is considered more convenient for Indian television audiences than several other Australian cities. As a result, India could be allocated the Perth semi-final if the team reaches the last four. That possibility, however, will depend on the final schedule and official venue arrangements.
Five Australian cities are being considered as potential hosts: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. In New Zealand, the likely host cities are Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.
The tournament is expected to feature 55 matches across eight cities, although the ICC has not yet confirmed the complete venue list or how the fixtures will be divided between the two countries.
Adelaide Unlikely to Host a Major Knockout Match
The report also suggests that Adelaide Oval is unlikely to host either the final or a semi-final in 2028.
The development has drawn attention because of Adelaide’s history of staging major international matches. The venue hosted a quarter-final during the 2015 Men’s ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final between India and England.
The reported venue situation has also been linked to disagreements surrounding Cricket Australia’s plans for the commercial restructuring of the Big Bash League (BBL).
Cricket Australia has approved a framework that allows state associations and clubs to sell commercial stakes in their respective Team Participation Agreements (TPAs). Several state bodies reportedly opposed the proposal, with South Australia among those raising concerns.
However, neither the ICC nor Cricket Australia has officially confirmed that these disagreements are the reason Adelaide may miss out on a major knockout fixture. The reported connection should therefore be treated with caution.
Major Format Changes Confirmed for 2028
Alongside the venue discussions, the 2028 tournament will introduce a revised competition format. The ICC announced the changes on July 15, 2026, following its Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh.
The 20 participating teams will be divided into five groups of four, replacing the previous arrangement of four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will progress to the next stage.
The second round will feature a Super 10 phase, with the remaining 10 teams split into two groups of five.
The winners of both Super 10 groups will qualify directly for the semi-finals. The other two semi-final places will be decided through two newly introduced eliminator matches.
In each eliminator, the second-placed team from one Super 10 group will face the third-placed team from the other group. The winners will complete the semi-final line-up.
The revised structure adds two knockout matches before the semi-finals and gives teams finishing second and third in the Super 10 groups another route to the final four.
Tournament Scheduled for October and November 2028
The 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to run from October 12 to November 12, with Australia and New Zealand sharing hosting responsibilities.
While the reported venue plan points towards Melbourne for the final and Perth for one semi-final, the official match schedule remains pending.
CricBengal Analysis: A potential final at the MCG would place the tournament’s biggest match at one of cricket’s most historic venues. The revised Super 10 structure and cross-pool eliminators will also introduce a different route to the semi-finals. Fans will have to wait for the ICC’s official announcement for confirmation of the venues and match allocations.
Sources: 9News, ICC
Published by: CricBengal.com
