ODI Super League: Format, Schedule, Fixtures, Teams, Predicted Winner

The Bilateral One Day International cricket series post-COVID-19 is all geared up to get new relevance as the ICC on Sunday announced the launch of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. This much-needed change is expected to bring in more context to the bilateral ODI series, in this age of  T20 franchise tournaments.

What is ODI Super League?

The International Cricket Council on Monday (July 27) officially launched the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. The newly proposed Super League features 13 teams which include 12 full members of the ICC and Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17.

As per the rules of the ICC, the top seven teams in the Super League along with India (hosts of 2023 World Cup) will directly qualify for the 10-team 2023 World Cup. The remaining 5 teams will play the qualifiers along with the rest of the 5 associate teams. The winner and the runner-up of the qualifier will seal the last two spots for the 10 team ICC World Cup 2023.

The ODI League is much more evenly balanced than the World Test Championship that started last year. Each side will play four home and four away three-match series during the lead up to the 2023 World Cup. Nations are allowed to conduct more than 3 match ODI series, but for the purpose of qualification procedure, the results of the first 3 will only be taken to the account.

 “We are delighted to get the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League underway with world cup winners England against Ireland,” Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager – Cricket Operations said.

“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. 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.”

The Super League will begin with the three-match ODI series between England and Ireland starting on July 30 in Southampton.

 ODI Super League Structure

• Each of these 13 teams will only get to play against 8 other teams during this period.
• Each of the 13 teams will play four 3 match ODI series at home and four 3 match ODI series away from home.
• Each win gives a team 10 points, whereas each tie gives 5 points.
• Top 7 teams from this league qualify directly to the 2023 World Cup in India.
• India being the hosts, qualifies automatically.
• Remaining 5 teams will play a qualifier after the ODI Super League, along with 5 other Associate teams.
• Winner and the runner up of the Qualifier will secure the last two spots for the 10 team ICC World Cup 2023.

Below is the list of all teams that a side won’t be facing during the course of the ODI Super League.

Predicted Winner 

Looking at the proposed structure and considering the balance of the line-up pioneers of the game England, India and Australia are sure shot candidates to finish at the top three positions.

An already balanced line-up and the current form is bound to provide a head start to the defending champions England, with their only difficult assignment being beating India in India.

Virat Kohli led India, on the other hand, is expected to win all the four home series. The only major hurdle for India will be winning the series down-under in Australia.

The result of the India-Australia series down under, England-Australia series in England and the India-England series in India is expected to have a huge impact on the final league standings.

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