ICC Claims That Countries Must Balance Domestic Leagues And International Schedule

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is putting up a bold face to preserve the only format of the game that has world champions every four years as the argument about the relevance of the ODI format rages.

The International Cricket Council board gathered in Birmingham to examine the format’s future in great detail.

“Regarding the relevance of ODIs, we discussed the format of the game and how it is included in FTP. Fans from other nations have varied tastes for formats. At this point, discussions may have included a variety of calendar formats rather than just ODIs “ Geoff Allardice, CEO of ICC, remarked on Tuesday.

“Countries are still including a significant amount of ODIs in their FTPs. You will not see a big shift in the quantity or percentage of ODIs played” he continued.

“Some of the participants are paying close attention to their leagues. However, members’ dedication to both bilateral and international cricket is as strong as it has ever been. Members must strike a balance between managing their players and domestic and international competition “Allardice said.

‘A lot of cricket is played through ICC events’: Greg Barclay

Greg Barclay, the chairman of the ICC, acknowledged that the expansion of T20 leagues and bilateral cricket has presented difficulties for the organization’s members.

The discussion about whether players should play in all formats was sparked by Ben Stokes’ decision to retire from ODIs.

“The calendar only allows us a finite amount of time. Numerous matches of cricket are played in ICC tournaments, bilateral matches, and T20 leagues.”

“In terms of the tipping point, I am not sure, but there is unquestionably pressure on members to navigate the situation. They must also consider the fact that players cannot possibly continue to play the quantity of cricket that is being played.”

The ODI Super League (a qualification pathway for ODI World Cups) will be discontinued after the 2023 World Cup as the ICC looks to grow the game globally through the T20 format.

Also Read: India Rewarded For Its Strong ODI Performance In The ICC ODI Rankings