The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken note of the dwindling interest in ODI cricket and is working on a major overhaul to regain the fans’ and the cricket boards’ confidence in the format.
According to reports, the governing body is considering the revival of the ODI Super League, which was scrapped after the 2023 World Cup.
Introduced in 2020, the 13-team league was designed to inject meaning into bilateral ODI series by linking them directly to World Cup qualification. However, the format was shelved after just one cycle due to a jam-packed international calendar, a move that drew criticism from smaller Full Member nations and Associates, who lost a valuable competitive platform.
Now, the ICC is actively considering bringing it back. The proposal, which surfaced during recent board meetings, suggests the ODI Super League could return as early as 2028, though the exact number of participating teams remains undecided.
The push for revival comes at a crucial time. With the rise of T20 leagues worldwide, the relevance of ODI cricket has been under intense debate. But ICC insiders believe that reinstating a structured league, with clear qualification stakes and regular fixtures, could breathe new life into the 50-over game.
For now, the 2027 ODI World Cup will feature 14 teams, sticking to the format used in 2003 and 2011, while the T20 World Cup will continue with 20 teams.
Meanwhile, Associate nations have tabled a new T20 World Cup qualification model, proposing a global qualifying tournament similar to Olympic qualifiers. This would not only bring together top Associates but also Full Members who fail to qualify automatically, creating a more competitive and commercially viable pathway.
All these proposals are set to be discussed in detail at the next ICC meeting early next year, where final decisions could shape the future of white-ball cricket for the next decade.
