At a time when doubts are sometimes expressed over the way forward for the 50-over format, the continued ODI World Cup in India has given the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) a number of causes for optimism. In line with the ICC’s chief business officer Anurag Dahiya, as of the thirty fifth recreation of the match, the tv viewership had hit 500 million and the digital numbers too had seen document numbers with the organisers anticipating the general tally to be double that of the 2019 version.
Following successive T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, there have been apprehensions forward of this World Cup. Regardless of being staged in India, the same old buzz that one witnessed in 2011 was lacking. There have been additionally fears that the cricket-crazy public’s urge for food for the 50-over recreation might have come down.
However Dahiya stated that this version has consigned all these issues to the bin, and confirmed that the 50-over format is right here to remain. “ engagement on TV, the numbers which were coming in have been superlative; 500 million by the tip of the thirty fifth recreation (48-game match). Now we have seen digital information being damaged twice by way of concurrence. We hope we are going to get to see these damaged two instances, if not thrice, extra. Even concurrency on TV has been superb. General, on reside protection, we couldn’t have requested for extra. It has exceeded expectations,” Dahiya stated throughout a media interplay.
For him, greater than tv consumption, what’s much more encouraging is how followers thronged in numbers to the stadiums, even for non-India matches, that has made the match commercially viable. Regardless of low turnouts within the first week – the opening fixture between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad was performed in entrance of loads of empty seats – at common centres like Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata, even non-India matches had been properly attended.
“We’re over the moon with what we now have achieved by way of in-stadia attendance. Little question, we had a bit tender begin. A few of that’s taking into consideration that India has such giant stadiums and the preliminary non-India video games appeared not well-attended. Shortly, that modified – and that’s testomony to some unbelievable cricket we now have seen – particularly for non-India matches, it simply roped in individuals. Only a few days again, we introduced that we had the millionth spectator transfer in via the turnstiles. We predict that’s in all probability made this essentially the most well-attended World Cup ever. I’m not even choosing on the India video games which have been offered out. For us, the main target was matches the place India just isn’t taking part in. It’s been actually marvellous,” Dahiya added.
These numbers additionally come at a vital juncture so far as ICC goes. Barring the 2027 World Cup, which is ready to be hosted in Southern Africa, within the subsequent eight-year cycle that runs until 2031, three of the 4 50-over ICC occasions will probably be held within the sub-continent. Whereas Pakistan are scheduled to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, the 2029 version will probably be performed in India, adopted by the 2031 50-over World Cup which is ready to be jointly-hosted by India and Bangladesh.
The one concern is bilateral occasions. With the ICC casting off the World Cup Tremendous League that acted as a qualification for 50-over World Cups, it additional takes some shine off bilateral ODIs. Since Covid set in, there was a discount within the variety of ODIs performed amongst prime groups. With the ICC not having direct management over bilateral assignments, Dahiya admitted that there’s a want for context within the 50-over format.
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“Bilateral cricket, like I stated earlier, we proceed to have a look at how they feed into apex tournaments. Whether or not it was the Tremendous league earlier or bringing context by way of WTC (World Check Championship). These are issues that may evolve. If I had been to select up one problem we do have to deal with, bilateral ODI cricket is the one the place we now have to focus to maintain it vibrant. If we shift again 5 years in the past, we’d have stated that there isn’t any curiosity in bilateral Exams and quick ahead to now the place we now have had two profitable editions of the WTC remaining. That’s introduced individuals again to Check cricket.
“Earlier this yr, we had Indian followers extra concerned with what was taking place in New Zealand and Sri Lanka as a result of that will have an effect on WTC remaining qualification. In order that sort of context is necessary. I don’t assume it’s all the way down to the format. We see it extra as ensuring there’s the precise context and backdrop to all bilateral cricket. Our members and board have proven they’re creative sufficient to rise to such challenges. In order that’s the larger dialogue: how can we deliver long-term context to bilateral cricket,” he added.
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