The era of ‘randomly scheduled’ bilaterals ‘has to come to an end,’ says ICC CEO

Reframing the International Cricket Calendar

The landscape of international cricket is undergoing a critical assessment regarding how bilateral series are structured and scheduled across member nations. The era of ‘randomly scheduled’ bilaterals ‘has to come to an end,’ says ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, who highlighted the necessity for clear context, culture, competition, and competitiveness to keep international bilateral fixtures viable and meaningful for global audiences.

Gupta, who assumed the role of ICC Chief Executive Officer in July last year, explained that member boards cannot maintain bilateral cricket effectively without proper alignment. According to the ICC chief, sustaining cricket operations requires significant resources—both financial and non-financial—making it essential to abandon ad-hoc scheduling in favor of a structured approach that resonates with players, administrators, and fans alike.

The Role and Future of ODI Cricket

Amid ongoing debates surrounding the relevance of One Day Internationals (ODIs) in a modern calendar increasingly dominated by franchise T20 leagues, Gupta expressed confidence in the 50-over format. He noted that the ODI format remains inextricably linked to both the men’s and women’s World Cups, securing its central place within the global product portfolio.

To ensure ODIs continue not just to survive but thrive, Gupta pointed to four primary levers that drive audience attention and affiliation: context, culture, competition, and competitiveness. He emphasized that cricket administrators must evaluate what the format stands for, how it should evolve, and how to properly expand participation across the cricketing map.

The debate over the future of ODIs has intensified in recent years following the expansion of T20 leagues globally and the establishment of the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2019. The WTC introduced explicit context to Test cricket through two-year cycles culminating in a final to crown a champion. Meanwhile, the ODI format reached a major milestone recently with its 5000th official match, played between Associate members Scotland and Canada in Dundee.

The 2027 World Cup Structure and FTP Planning

The next major focal point for 50-over cricket is the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup, set to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November 2027. This tournament marks the beginning of the next Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle covering 2027 to 2031, which governs bilateral series schedules and media rights deals between member boards. The current men’s FTP cycle runs through April 2027, with the new FTP structure slated for finalization at upcoming ICC meetings in Hong Kong later this year.

However, recent structural changes to the 14-team 2027 World Cup format have generated significant discussion. Following its annual conference in Edinburgh, the ICC announced a revamped tournament structure featuring a Super Series round preceding the main group stages, followed by a Super 7 stage before the semi-finals.

Under this system, the 12th, 13th, and 14th qualifying teams will compete in a tri-series Super Series, from which only a single team will advance to the main World Cup stage. This format change faced sharp criticism from Associate members, specifically Cricket Scotland and the Netherlands Cricket Board (KNCB), who voiced strong concerns over reduced access and opportunities for developing cricket nations.

Player Perspectives on Bilateral Context

Concerns over bilateral fixtures have also been shared by prominent former international players. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith previously raised issues regarding bilateral cricket, pointing out that series often lack context and consistency when played outside the top-tier competing nations.

Similarly, former South African fielder and coach Jonty Rhodes offered his perspective during a recent event in Mumbai. Rhodes observed that while many initially expected T20 cricket to damage Test cricket, Test matches have instead adapted by incorporating aggressive batting and bowling styles. Instead, Rhodes identified 50-over cricket as the format facing potential pressure in the coming years.

Rhodes emphasized that 50-over cricket benefits from a loyal and passionate fanbase that supports their teams regardless of format. While acknowledging that the volume of 50-over matches within bilateral series may decline, he highlighted that the format remains deeply rooted in the history and structure of the sport, making it difficult to envision international cricket without the 50-over game.