Playing down threats to ODI cricket

Playing down threats to ODI cricket to One Day International format of cricket matches is increasing by the day compelling the International Cricket Council (ICC) to play down threats to it by stating that a healthy number of one-day internationals will be played in the 2023-27 cycle.The proliferation of lucrative domestic T20 leagues have cramped up cricket’s already-strained calendar and England all-rounder Ben Stokes attributed his sudden ODI retirement to unsustainable schedule. Earlier this month South Africa abandoned their ODI tour of Australia as it clashed with the launch of their domestic T20 league raising their chances of qualifying directly for next year’s World Cup in India. Australia test batsman Usman Khawaja has said one-day cricket was dying a slow death while former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram called the format a drag. Akram elaborated by stating that they are doing it just for the sake of doing it. After the first 10 overs, it’s just ‘OK, just go a run a ball, get a boundary, four fielders in and you get to 200, 220 in 40 overs’ and then have a go last 10 overs. Another 100. It’s kind of run-of-the-mill. For the time being however ICC is hedging its bets but something is required to be done in near future. TW

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