New Delhi, July 16 -- Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin backed the International Cricket Council's (ICC) changes to the fixture format for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup but stressed the need for greater opportunities for emerging cricket nations to help expand the sport globally.

Ashwin, in a post on X, said the revised formats could improve competitiveness but added that more focus was needed on creating a stronger pathway for developing teams.

"The ICC's changes to the fixture format for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup make sense from a competitiveness standpoint," Ashwin wrote.

"But if the final goal is to grow the game, there needs to be a stronger pathway for emerging nations. Teams like the ...