ICC initiative for three-year ODI World Cup disproved by member nations

ICC initiative for three-year ODI World Cup disproved by member nations

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ICC’s proposal to host an ODI World Cup every three years instead of the current procedure of four was shot down by a host of member nations at the working group meeting in London. The member’s believe the ICC should focus on deriving optimum value from the existing properties such as World T20 Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently in a state of transition where chief executive David Richardson will step down to make way for replacement Manu Sawhney, a former top-level sports broadcast executive. In a bid to improve the global stature of the sport of cricket,  the international governing body floated an idea that the 50-over World Cup, which is currently in motion across the UK - should be held once every three years instead of four. 

However, sources from within the international body revealed that at a recent working group meeting of the chief executives of all Full Member nations of the ICC in London, many host nations were against the idea of a three-year World Cup.

"A majority of Full Member nations - with India, England and Australia at the helm - were not interested in a WC every three years.

"… Which is understandable, you see. They're all trying to protect their respective homes seasons. Look at England, for instance. Their CEO Tom Harrison was strongly against the idea floated by the ICC simply because the best months available for England to play cricket at home are during the English summer. There's no way they'll look to share that slot with ICC. The present World Cup scheduling is a classic example," sources told TOI.

The report further added that almost every Full Member nation who attended the meeting shot down the idea and wanted the ICC to focus on other ventures such as the World T20 Cup.

"At a time when a World Cup once every four years is not drawing/yielding desired value, hosting one every three years doesn't make sense. Instead, ICC should focus on deriving optimum value from the existing properties, particularly the World T20. The instant turning down of ICC's proposal is clearly the beginning of an idea that going forward, only T20 cricket on a on a global scale is what stakeholders are looking at.

"Outside of bilateral cricket, it is becoming evident with each passing season that the only global tournament that is delivering value to stakeholders is a T20 event. The 50-over tournament, outside of the subcontinent, clearly won't have takers in the long or short run. At the highest level that cricket can set the bar, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the only global benchmark," say those tracking industry developments. "If ICC eyes top value in return for the properties, the IPL is where the bar is set right now,"sources further revealed.

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