Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the future of bilateral One Day International (ODI) cricket. While acknowledging the need for increased context and jeopardy in these matches, Greenberg expressed significant concern over the potential financial repercussions if the format were to be completely removed from the Future Tours Programme (FTP).
Greenberg’s remarks follow recent comments by ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, who suggested that the era of indiscriminately scheduled bilateral series must conclude, proposing that the ODI format should remain inextricably linked to the World Cup to thrive. According to Greenberg, Gupta shared similar sentiments during a recent visit to Melbourne for a CA staff meeting. Greenberg noted his agreement with the core principle that international cricket matches must carry context and meaning, but emphasized that finding a viable solution is complex.
Addressing the commercial reality, Greenberg explained that bilateral ODIs constitute a substantial portion of broadcast agreements for cricket boards globally. He stressed that any move to replace these fixtures or introduce more jeopardy requires a clear plan to offset the resulting revenue loss. As a member of the ICC working group currently finalizing the FTP for 2028-31 and planning for the 2032-35 period, Greenberg is actively navigating these challenges.
In addition to the ODI structure, Greenberg addressed the upcoming ODI World Cup, backing Australia coach Andrew McDonald’s call for larger squad sizes following recent format changes. Regarding the reduction of teams in the ODI World Cup, Greenberg indicated that Cricket Australia supports the ICC’s broader strategy, which involves prioritizing more Associates in the T20 World Cup rather than the ODI version. While acknowledging that some Associate nations have expressed dissatisfaction with the current direction, Greenberg stated that he believes the ICC’s decision was driven by an effort to maximize commercial value for the tournaments.
Speaking in Darwin on Thursday during Australia's first Test with Bangladesh, Greenberg revealed Gupta had made similar comments at a CA staff meeting during a visit to Melbourne recently. Greenberg said he agrees with the idea of creating more jeopardy and meaning in bilateral ODIs but is concerned by the commercial ramifications for cricket boards around the world if they are removed altogether.
"So there's a fine balance here. Some of that's short term, some of it long term. But the principle of what he's saying is right. Creating jeopardy and meaning into the games we play is important. But it's not an easy solve."
