International one-day cricket set for new league set-up
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Australian captain Michael Clarke, Steven Smith and Australian players celebrate with the World Cup trophy as they celebrate after Australia won the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup final match between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)
International one day cricket could be a completely different scenario in three years time with the ICC proposing a new format.
The plans, which will be discussed at the ICC’s upcoming annual general meeting, will see a new league of 13 nations with the top two teams playing off in a final. Teams would play a three-match series against every other, totalling 36 ODI’s each over a three-year basis.
Qualification and seeding would be determined through the league with the side that finished bottom relegated to the World Cricket League Championship.
Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland could be included in the league as the ICC looks to widen the number of elite teams.
It doesn’t mean the end for other ODIs wither with teams free to organise extra matches but these would not count towards the league.
The AGM is also expected to rubber stamp proposals for a World Twenty20 to be held every two years from 2018.