ODI cricket could be heading for a major change as the ICC looks to give the 50 over format more context and meaning.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta has said the era of randomly scheduled bilateral series needs to end.
According to him, cricket needs context, culture, competition and competitiveness to keep fans interested.
So, what does this mean for ODIs?
Gupta believes the format can still survive and grow, but its future is closely linked to the men’s and women’s ICC World Cups.
The ICC has also reportedly discussed creating a dedicated ODI window ahead of the World Cup.
Bilateral cricket is controlled by individual boards, not the ICC. This means any major scheduling change will need the boards to agree.
Sanjog Gupta also warned that Test cricket needs to evolve. At present, only India, England and Australia have the financial strength to regularly sustain Test cricket at a high level.
He pointed to events like Wimbledon and The Masters, saying cricket must use the prestige of Test cricket while making it more appealing to modern fans.
The World Test Championship has already added context to Test cricket, but Sanjog Gupta believes better scheduling, marketing, competitive match ups and playing conditions are also needed.
T20 remains the ICC’s main growth format, but the message is clear ODIs and Tests cannot simply be left behind. Could a dedicated ODI window be the biggest step yet to save 50 over cricket?
