Cricket Australia's Revenue Warning Could Reshape ODI's Future

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-16

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has raised serious concerns about the financial fallout that could follow if bilateral ODI cricket gets stripped from the international calendar. Even as he acknowledged the format needs more context and stakes to stay relevant, he made it clear that removing it without a plan would be a costly mistake. Speaking in Darwin during Australia's opening Test against Bangladesh, Greenberg responded to ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta's recent remarks that the age of loosely scheduled bilateral series must end. Gupta has suggested that the ODI format's future should be tied more closely to the World Cup cycle, a shift that would fundamentally change how international cricket operates. ### Why Bilateral ODIs Matter More Than You Think Here's the thing: bilateral ODIs aren't just filler matches between bigger events. They're the backbone of most broadcast deals across the cricketing world. When networks sign contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, they're paying for a steady stream of content, and ODIs deliver that reliably. Greenberg confirmed that Gupta had delivered similar messages during a visit to Cricket Australia's Melbourne offices. He broadly agreed with the direction of that thinking, saying matches need to carry weight and consequence for players and fans alike. But he stressed that boards cannot simply erase bilateral ODIs without addressing what replaces the revenue those fixtures generate. The commercial reality is stark: - Broadcast deals across the cricketing world lean heavily on bilateral ODI content - Smaller member boards depend on this revenue to fund grassroots development - Replacing that income stream would require entirely new commercial models Greenberg described the situation as a balancing act between short-term broadcast obligations and long-term structural reform. He added that creating meaning within the calendar remains important, even though achieving it won't happen quickly or easily. ### The Future Tours Programme Takes Shape Greenberg currently sits on the ICC working group tasked with finalising the Future Tours Programme for the 2028-31 cycle. The same group is also sketching an early outline for 2032-35, which means the decisions made now will shape cricket for the next decade. His comments suggest Cricket Australia will push for a format that retains context-heavy fixtures while protecting the financial base bilateral cricket provides to member boards, particularly those without the bargaining power of the bigger nations. It's a delicate dance between progress and pragmatism. ### Squad Size Push Gains Momentum Ahead Of World Cup Beyond the FTP discussions, Greenberg addressed Australia coach Andrew McDonald's call for larger squads at the upcoming ODI World Cup. That request is driven by changes to the tournament format, which will require teams to play more matches in a shorter window. Greenberg said Cricket Australia has pushed the issue directly with the ICC after McDonald made his position clear internally. He noted that several other countries have raised similar concerns, and that squad-size flexibility has become a live topic on the ICC's agenda as boards adjust to the revised structure of the event. ### Associate Nations Left Out As Format Shrinks On the reduction of Associate teams in the ODI World Cup, Greenberg said Cricket Australia did not push hard against the change. He noted that the decision appeared to arrive with limited consultation beforehand, which has left some nations feeling sidelined. He said the shift likely reflects an effort to maximise commercial returns from the tournament, while acknowledging that some Associate nations have expressed frustration publicly. It's a tough pill to swallow for teams that have worked hard to qualify for the sport's biggest stage. Greenberg suggested the T20 World Cup, which is expanding to include more Associate sides, offers those nations a more realistic pathway into ICC events going forward. He confirmed Cricket Australia supports that broader strategy, even as the ODI World Cup narrows its field. ### What Happens Next Greenberg's comments arrive as the ICC continues shaping the next FTP cycle. Bilateral ODI cricket's structure, revenue model, and place in the international calendar are all still under active discussion among member boards. The tension is real: how do you modernise a format without destroying the financial foundation that keeps the sport alive in smaller markets? There's no easy answer, but at least the conversation is happening now rather than later. For now, fans can expect more debate, more working group meetings, and hopefully, a solution that balances tradition with evolution. Cricket's future depends on getting this right.