The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering reviving the ODI Super League to revive interest in the 50-over format. The proposal was discussed during the recent quarterly meeting of the ICC, and was the first step towards restarting the league which was called off after the 2023 World Cup.
Notably, the ICC launched the ODI Super League in 2020 as a qualification pathway for the 2023 World Cup in India. The 13-team league, which included the 12 full members and the Netherlands, was discontinued after just one cycle due to a congested calendar and conflicts with international commitments.
ICC to revive ODI Super League to revive 50-over cricket
During the ODI Super League, each team had to play eight three-match series, consisting of four at home and four away. The top seven teams earned direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup, while the remaining teams competed in additional qualifiers.
However, the growth of T20 cricket and the increasing dominance of franchise leagues has left little room for other formats in the international calendar. According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC is considering reviving the Super League with a new and more sustainable structure.
The revised format may feature adjusted windows to avoid overlap with T20 tournaments and provide a more balanced playing field for all countries. Notably, the International Cricket Council is also exploring the possibility of using the revived league as a direct qualification route for the 2031 ODI World Cup.
ICC proposal to revive ODI Super League lacks clarity on number of teams
There is no clarity yet on how many teams will participate in the ICC’s proposal to revive the ODI Super League. Notably, the league is expected to return from 2028.
An official told ESPNcricinfo that the initiative is aimed at restoring the relevance of 50-over cricket by giving it a stronger structure rather than completely changing it.
“Super League could help revive the 50-over format. Maybe the problem isn’t that the format is dead; it’s finding the proper structure,” an administrator was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
Despite these discussions, the governing body is not currently considering expanding the World Cup format beyond 14 teams, which will be implemented in 2027 after recent editions have included only ten teams.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli finish as leading run-getters in ODI World Cup 2023
India finished runners-up during the ODI World Cup 2023 under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. The Men in Blue dominated the group stage and reached the knockout stage unbeaten. They defeated New Zealand by 70 runs in the semi-final match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
However, the team failed to get past Pat Cummins-led Australia in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were the top two run-scorers in the tournament.
Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and strike rate of 90.32, which included three centuries. He also won the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award. Rohit scored 597 runs in 11 matches at an average of 54.27 and strike rate of 125.95, which also included a century in his name.
Also read: Virat Kohli imposed hurdles on BCCI, Rohit Sharma surrendered before the demands of selectors! What is the future?
