The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to expand the men’s ODI World Cup from the next cycle. After an animated series of debates er whether to expand the size to 16 teams but, in all likelihood, the ICC directors will settle for a 14-team format, played thrice before – in 2003, 2011, and 2015.
Meanwhile, the current 10-team format has attracted criticisms from all quarters. The Associate Nations have come down hard on ICC saying that they have been deprived of taking part in the pinnacle championship. As a result, the apex body has done away with the 10-team ICC World Cup.
10-team ODI World Cup in 2023
For the last couple of months, the ICC members have been deliberating on the size of the World Cup periodically through virtual conferences. And now a report in Cricbuzz suggests that consensus is fast emerging on the 14-team format for the ODI World Cup in the next eight-year cycle, from 2023 to 31. There was certainly a demand to have 16 teams too, like in 2007, but the idea does not have the approval of the majority.
Meanwhile, ICC is still in a dilemma whether to have six or eight World Cups in the cycle. An eight-event cycle was approved in principle in 2019 with dubious participation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at one meeting. However, the new BCCI members have made some positive noises and ICC is hopeful to host eight World Cups in the next cycle.
BCCI look at UAE as backup venue for T20 World Cup
The Sourav Ganguly-led body is looking at the United Arab Emirates as the backup option for hosting the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. Incidentally, there are uncertainties over India hosting the tournament in the wake of the rising COVID19 cases in the country. The tournament is all set to take place during October-November after it was postponed last year due to the deadly virus.
