Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
The ICC ODI World Cup Super League, which was originally scheduled to begin in May, will kick off on July 30 when England take on Ireland in the first of three ODIs.
How does the Super League work?
The Super League will feature 13 teams – the top 12 and Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17. Each team will play four home and away three-match ODI series, with a points system in place (10 for a win, five for a tie or no result, none for a loss). The top seven sides (except India) will gain automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup, to be hosted by India.
The ODI Super League has been brought in to add greater relevance to ODI cricket, as the format has suffered somewhat over the years due to a plethora of context-less matches. Also, at the same time the ICC postponed the T20 World Cup, they also decided to push back the 2023 World Cup to later in the year, as it allows for more time for the Super League to be completed.
Also read: ICC pushes back 2023 ODI World Cup to later in the year
“The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” Geoff Allardice, ICC’s general manager (cricket operations), said in a statement. “The Super League gives cricket fans around the world even more reasons to watch as the drama of league cricket unfolds.
“The decision last week to move the World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to Covid-19 and preserve the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important.”
Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie said it is an honour to be part of the first fixture of the ICC ODI Super League. He has acknowledged that it will be a huge challenge against world champions England, but he has called for Ireland to give their best.
“It’s a privilege to be playing in the inaugural series of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League. It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020,” said Balbirnie in a statement.
“I look forward to the Irish side putting on a good performance in the upcoming series as we start our campaign for World Cup qualification.”
The England vs Ireland ODIs will take place on July 30, August 1 and August 4, all at the Ageas Bowl at Southampton.