Former Australian cricketer Steve O’Keefe has expressed his belief that the future of One-Day cricket depends entirely on India’s commitment to the format. He emphasized that the allure of lucrative earnings from T20 cricket may eventually render 50-over cricket obsolete.
The 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup is set to commence with a highly anticipated rematch of the thrilling 2019 final between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad. However, there seems to be a lack of buzz surrounding the tournament opener.
With questions looming about the future of ODIs, the newly appointed MCC President, Mark Nicholas, recently suggested that 50-over matches should be restricted to World Cups, advocating the elimination of bilateral and tri-series games.
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“I understand the sentiment from Nicholas. Ultimately, the fate of One-Day cricket will rest with India and their cricket board because T20 cricket is where the majority of revenue is generated. If India continues to support One-Day cricket, it will continue to thrive,” O’Keefe remarked.
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“With the crowded cricket calendar and the proliferation of T20 leagues in various countries, we can see that the landscape is changing. Some countries are prioritizing their own T20 tournaments over Test matches, as seen with South Africa favoring T20 leagues over Test series in New Zealand,” O’Keefe shared during an interview on SEN 1170.
O’Keefe’s remarks precede Australia’s debut in the Men’s ODI World Cup, where they will face host nation India in Chennai on October 8. “In many ways, this situation serves as a litmus test for the cricket world. T20 leagues attract fans and high television ratings, catering to the preferences of the modern audience.”
“To remain relevant, cricket must adapt to what the audience desires. The evolving dynamic is driven by the preference of younger audiences for shorter, more action-packed formats, and T20 cricket is at the forefront. We can expect to witness more countries establishing their own T20 tournaments,” he concluded.
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