Now here's an idea. It may have been mentioned elsewhere before, but I certainly havent heard about it. My idea is this:
Given the recent rumblings that have been going on in the media, and within several cricket boards, about the ICC Champion's Trophy, being a biannual series, taking away the lustre of the World Cup, what about changing the Champion's Trophy into an International 20/20 tournament? That way, it fulfils a variety of functions:
1) It truly launches 20/20 into the international arena, in a meaningful competition, and by all accounts this would be nothing but a good thing.
2) Secondly, it prevents the Champions Trophy from being so similar to the World Cup that it takes away its lustre (given that currently both tournaments involve all the top teams, in a 50-over, group then knockout formats, which are somewhat similar)
3) The ICC get to keep both of their major sources of income, and possibly even increase it, given the popularity of 20/20, in both domestic and international arenas.
4) Assists the host country of the tournament, because, as we can see this year, India has been forced to put aside prime time summer for the Champions Trophy, which they will make little or no money from (because the ICC takes most of the profits). A 20/20 tournament could take place in a shorter time frame, thereby allowing more space in an already hectic International Schedule.
Given the interest that 20/20 generates, such a tournament would allow it to be played internationally in a more competitive and meaningful manner, rather than the one-off, just for a change format its being used for at the moment (there having been only four 20/20 international matches in the space of 12 months).
What do people think?
Given the recent rumblings that have been going on in the media, and within several cricket boards, about the ICC Champion's Trophy, being a biannual series, taking away the lustre of the World Cup, what about changing the Champion's Trophy into an International 20/20 tournament? That way, it fulfils a variety of functions:
1) It truly launches 20/20 into the international arena, in a meaningful competition, and by all accounts this would be nothing but a good thing.
2) Secondly, it prevents the Champions Trophy from being so similar to the World Cup that it takes away its lustre (given that currently both tournaments involve all the top teams, in a 50-over, group then knockout formats, which are somewhat similar)
3) The ICC get to keep both of their major sources of income, and possibly even increase it, given the popularity of 20/20, in both domestic and international arenas.
4) Assists the host country of the tournament, because, as we can see this year, India has been forced to put aside prime time summer for the Champions Trophy, which they will make little or no money from (because the ICC takes most of the profits). A 20/20 tournament could take place in a shorter time frame, thereby allowing more space in an already hectic International Schedule.
Given the interest that 20/20 generates, such a tournament would allow it to be played internationally in a more competitive and meaningful manner, rather than the one-off, just for a change format its being used for at the moment (there having been only four 20/20 international matches in the space of 12 months).
What do people think?