The International Cricket Council on Monday launched the ICC ODI Super League, which will serve as the qualifiers for 2023 World Cup, slated to be held in India.
The ODI Super League will commence from July 30 with the England vs Ireland match and 13 teams will be vying for a place in the 2023 World Cup.
India have automatically qualified for the tournament by virtue of being the hosts and other seven teams will secure qualification from four home and four away series in a schedule that will be worked out shortly.
Teams that fail to finish in the Top 8 will play a qualifier tournament with associate nations and two teams will make it to the world cup.
As per the rules, each team will get 10 points for a victory earned and 5 points for a tie and although teams are free to choose and draw their own respective schedules, only earmarked series as per home and away categories will be considered in the two year cycle.
Featuring 13 teams, the 12 ICC Full Members and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three match series.
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Commenting on the launch, Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager - Cricket Operations, 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.”
“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,” England's World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan said.