World Cup 2011 proves ODI's popularity -Logart

Anuradha ABEYSEKARA

The much debated question of the 50-over cricket's future in a newfound twenty-20 game was the main topic when the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Logart addressed the Media at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo recently. Sri Lanka Press Institute has organized the event to build a forum to discuss this timely issue.

Logart was optimistic about ODI cricket and said that the ongoing World Cup tournament is a testimony to the popularity of the game's format. "On Wednesday India- Pakistan semi final is expected to receive the highest number of spectators in the history. There was no real evidence of a crisis when considering the 2011 ICC World Cup. The stadiums are packed. The reality is that more we talk of a game in crisis the more we created the crisis and more we fuel the talk of doom and despondency," said Haroon.

The ICC has conducted a survey in five key markets, namely England, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Bangladesh on all three international level formats of the game, Test, 50-over and T20 cricket. "Total of 676 million people in the five markets expressed not just an interest but a passion for 50-over cricket. Only in England it was trailed in third behind Test and T-20 where as in other markets it was the most popular or second favorite format.

The 2011 ICC World Cup also claimed 97.8 percent audience from the TV viewers. The research showed that the public will certainly not desert or reject the 50-over cricket but rather assured its future. There were less enthusiasm in spectators for reducing the number of overs to 45 or 40 and mixed views on a split-innings format according to the survey," the CEO revealed.

Having three viable forms at the international level, ICC is proud about the position that cricket enjoys among the world team sports. "We encourage all three forms in the international arena. ICC has drawn a strategic plan in tackling context and content in order to increase popularity in 50-over cricket. Our working group including Sri Lanka's Nishantha Ranatunga has put forward plans for context and content. The launch of an ODI League, which will run three year blocks between ICC Cricket World Cups will be hopefully confirmed early next week in Mumbai," Haroon said.

Answering to a question from Media whether the growing number of tournaments will cause much more player injuries, Lorgat said that ICC will not be able to control the volume of the games unilaterally as it does not have the authority in the domestic level to do so. It should be considered by the team management and all others who are involved in.