The new competition will begin when England face Ireland on Thursday, with results from matches in bilateral ODI series now being taken forward into a league table as part of qualification for the 2023 World Cup in India
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League begins on Thursday, when England face Ireland in the first of three ODIs.
Effectively, the competition has been set up to bring proper regular context and meaning to international 50-over cricket in bilateral series, with World Cup qualification on the line.
It is not an ICC tournament, per se, but rather an arrangement for bilateral series, where a points system has been worked out.
It involves England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Netherlands.
Netherlands won the World Cricket Super League to earn their place among the 12 full member countries.
The Super League will act as a qualifying period for the 2023 World Cup, which is set to take place in India.
India – as hosts – and the top seven sides will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the bottom five, as well as five associate nations, will participate in a ten-team qualifier for the final two entrants.
Team will gain ten points for a win, five points in the case of a tie, no-result or abandonment, and none for a defeat.
Each team will play eight series – four at home and four away, all featuring three matches, beginning at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday.
Based on the current state of the Future Tours Programme, that means England will not be due to face New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe or Afghanistan in this cycle between 2020 and 2022.
Likewise, India are not scheduled to play Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland or Netherlands. Meanwhile, Pakistan will therefore not face India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Ireland.
Speaking as he announced that the competition would come into effect this week, ICC general manager for cricket operations Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to get the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League underway with World Cup winners England against Ireland.
“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.”
England captain Eoin Morgan added: “We’re looking forward to playing cricket again and to the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League. Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home, when we lifted the World Cup at Lord’s, but it’s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament.
“I’m sure cricket fans all over the world will be excited to see white-ball cricket resume and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“Ireland are a talented team who have shown over the years that they can beat the best on their day. We look forward to what promises to be an interesting series.”
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