THE International Cricket Council (ICC) last Wednesday strongly defended the ODI format despite calls for it to be scrapped.

“The countries have been still scheduling a multi number of ODIs in their Future Tours Programme (FTP). You won’t see any significant changes in the number of or proportion of ODIs in the next FTP,” Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICC, said,

Ben Stokes recently quit the ODI format, stating that playing three formats was unsustainable. There have been many who have questioned the relevance of 50-over cricket, with Wasim Akram recently calling for the scrapping of ODIs.

The ICC assertion comes a day after its annual conference ended in Birmingham and in the backdrop of countries preferring franchise-based T20 leagues and South Africa deciding to forfeit early next year’s Super League points against Australia in preference for its yet-to-be-launched T20 league. The ICC has indicated that the three-match ODI series between South Africa and Australia may still happen.

“We’ve still got nine months in the window available to complete the Super League series. How the series is scheduled is between the two members to resolve. Whether they come to some arrangement, there might be some discussions going on. We will be dealing with that if that series does not take place,” Allardice said, contending that the FTP, which was approved at the Annual Conference on Tuesday, is still relevant.

He also dwelt upon the trend of some countries preferring domestic T20 leagues to international games. “We spoke about the three formats and the way it has been incorporated in the FTP.
The countries and the fans in those countries have different preferences with regard to the formats. At this stage there is some discussion, not specifically about ODIs but about the mix of formats within the calendar.”

Allardice claimed that the members are fully committed to the FTP and international and bilateral cricket was as strong as it’s ever been. “Each of them have 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,” he contended.

One of the points of discussion is whether ICC chairman Greg Barclay will seek re-election and the New Zealander said he is a contender. “Yes absolutely right. The term ends in November and I am eligible for a further two-year term and I am available for the term if the board wants to re-elect me,” Barclay said.

There has been a lot of speculation over the next chairman and it will be decided on whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fields a candidate or whom it backs for the position. The election will be in November and the election, unlike in the past, will be decided by a simple majority. (Cricbuzz.com)