A Three-Match ODI series between world champions England and Ireland beginning on Thursday will kick off the inaugural Super League, which will determine who qualifies for the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.
Aside from during the World Cup every four years, the appeal of the ODI game has dwindled after the arrival of the shorter T20 version of the sport, and it is hoped that the Super League will restore some of the 50-over format’s popularity.
Announcing the Super League yesterday, ICC general manager Geoff Allardice says: “The league will bring relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the World Cup 2023 is at stake.”
The launch of the Super League was delayed due to the global coronavirus pandemic with a number of series cancelled due to restrictions on international travel and lockdowns in various countries to contain the virus.
And currently hosting the West Indies in the first Test series post lockdown, world champions England will also host the first ODI when they take on Ireland in a bio-secure environment in Southampton.
The league will feature the 12 ICC Test-playing nations and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the World Cricket Super League 2015-17.
The top seven teams in the league, which will see each side play four home and four away series of three matches, will qualify for the World Cup.