Apex cricket body chief executive Geoff Allardice rubbishes claims of danger to ODI format

The apex cricket body on Wednesday, July 27 rubbished all concerns over the longevity of the ODI format with its chief executive Geoff Allardice confirming that a large number of matches will be played in the 50-over-format in the 2023-27 cycle.

The concerns over the relevance of the format in the future were raised in the past few days with the star England all-rounder Ben Stokes retiring from ODI cricket as playing all three formats became unsustainable for him.

Earlier in the month, South Africa abandoned their ODI tour of Australia, saying it clashed with the launch of the domestic T20 league in the country as they put their chances of direct qualification for next year's 50-over World Cup in India at stake.

The lucrative T20 leagues played all around the world have already cramped up the calendar hardly leaving any space for the bilateral ODI series to take place.

Allardice said that the structuring of the three formats was discussed at the annual general meeting of the governing body in Birmingham where the Future Tours Programme (FTP) 2023-27 was finalised.

"I think at this stage there is some discussion, not specifically about ODIs, but about the mix of formats within the calendar," Allardice said.

"Countries have been, in their FTPs, are still scheduling a healthy number of ODIs as well. So in the FTP, I don't think you'll see any significant change to the number of ODIs or the proportion of ODIs as being planned,” he added.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri also hinted at the possible diminishing significance of the ODI format over the past few years in an interview recently. Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram also voiced his opinion and called the format a ‘drag’.

"Each of them has to manage that balance between domestic competitions, their international schedule and the management of their players. Each of those boards is in a slightly different situation. So there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to that balancing issue,” Allardice further said.