The ICC’s redesigned Men’s ODI World Cup format has drawn criticism from a number of international players and captains. Scott Edwards, the captain of the Netherlands, called it “incredibly disappointing” and claimed that the sport should be generating “more opportunities on the global stage, not less”.
After the ICC approved a redesigned 2027 ODI World Cup format that included a Super Series with the three lowest-ranked qualified teams, only one of which advanced to the 12-team main stage before the tournament entered a Super 7 phase, the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) received the reactions.
Richie Berrington, the captain of Scotland, urged officials to “meaningfully” consult players on important choices.
“Players don’t expect to make every decision, but we should be meaningfully consulted on decisions that have significant impacts on the game and on players’ careers. Better decisions are made when different perspectives are brought to the table, and we’re urging the game to start doing that properly,” Berrington said as per Cricbuzz.
The Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said the revised pathway altered the reward for years of planning and investment by Associate nations.
“Qualifying for an ODI World Cup is a huge achievement for any country, so when the reality of that opportunity changes after years of planning, it’s incredibly disappointing. The ICC talks a lot about growing the game globally but decisions like this make it harder for associate nations to play against the best teams in the world. Those opportunities are what helps countries improve and inspires the next generation of players. If we’re serious about making cricket a global sport, we should be creating more opportunities on the global stage, not less,” he said.
Gerhard Erasmus, the captain of Namibia, stated that qualifying for the ODI World Cup should offer “a real opportunity to compete on the biggest stage” and that it was “our long form” for many Associate players.
“For players in many countries, an ODI World Cup isn’t just another tournament, it’s our long form and something careers are built around and generations of players aspire to. We all accept that you have to earn the right to be there, but we also want qualification to provide a real opportunity to compete on the biggest stage. This follows a long history of limited opportunity at associate level,” Erasmus stated.
Paul Stirling, captain of Ireland, stated that Associate nations had “consistently proven to add value and interest at global events” and cited the World Cup of football as an illustration of how smaller teams can enhance major competitions.
“The smaller and associate countries have consistently proven to add value and interest at global events. The football World Cup we’ve just witnessed is testament to that in other sports and it would be great to see cricket take a similar approach to maximize opportunities for the game,” Stirling stated.
USA’s Harmeet Singh said World Cup opportunities meant a great deal not only for players but also for “growing the game in emerging countries”, adding: “Countries, and players invest years preparing for opportunities like an ODI World Cup. Those opportunities mean a lot, not just for the players involved but for growing the game in emerging countries and for the fans who invest in the game. That’s why decisions like this matter well beyond one tournament.”
Daryl Mitchell, a batter from New Zealand, also supported “consistent and fair opportunities” for teams worldwide. He said: “We are fully supportive of players and countries around the world being provided with consistent and fair opportunities to reach and compete on the game’s biggest platforms.”
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!
