What Does The ICC Gain By Such Schedules?

Well, these days the jobless ICC is looking each and every method possible to make the game of cricket as boring as it can be. If not, how can one bring up and further implement the idea of having a tri series wherein, the three nations involved play just one match against each other, before advancing to the finals of the same. On one hand, the ICC has made a triangular series rare, by converting the even the periodic tri nation tournaments such as the Commonwealth Bank series (that used to be played in Australia in December every year) and the Nat West series (that is played in England every year) into bi lateral series and whenever it thinks of having a tri series, in addition to having teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe participating, the teams out there play each other just once-as I mentioned earlier.

This is not the first instance wherein the ICC has had such boring and inconsequential tournaments. Last year, just before the Asia cup, there was a tri series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the teams played each other just once. Months later, a series between Bermuda, Canada and West Indies was also scheduled in the same manner. In 2004, a tri series at Holland was held, wherin, exactly, the three teams-India, Australia and Pakistan played each other just once, with two out of the three round robin games being washed out due to rain and the remaining one (India vs Pakistan) was cut short to 32 overs a side.

And that saw the Australian team enter the finals of the same without even bowling a single delivery. This is not all. One more thing is that the ICC schedules events, wherein two of the participating teams would be under-rated ones and are coupled with a strong team that is bound to win the tri series. In this case, two weak teams in Bangladesh & Zimbabwe are grouped with Sri Lanka. In the earlier case, Canada & Bermuda were teamed up with the West Indies. A situation where the result is a certainty rather than a toss. And also the venues that hosts these series are just funny. Someone like Holland & Malaysia have hosted such tournaments.

I wonder as to what the ICC gains by conducting such events, that are held just for the sake of it? Is the ICC trying to include such tri series' just to fill in the time gaps before the teams involved are ready for another competition. Else, what would one watch out for in a bi-lateral series, where the two teams play each other four teams, like it happened just before the world cup 2007, where India played a bi lateral series involving four matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka? With a 2-2 result much likely! This is of course allowed in tests, where draw is always on the cards. But not in one dayers or T20 games. Some concession could be well given in case the teams battling it out are strong. But, whats the use when that is not the case?This shows that there is no one to question the ICC when it takes such foolish and illogical decisions repeatedly.

What About Tri Series'?

Well..since a year or so, or even before that, there has hardly been any cricket which involves thee nations or more. All the cricket that is now being seen is a bi-lateral series, that is preceded or followed by a test match series. Even if the recent past is being taken into consideration, we can come across series like India-England, South Africa- Bangladesh, Sri Lanka- Zimbabwe, Pakistan- West Indies and so on.This was however the case even before that as well. But, my patience didn't curb until then. Now, this is being taken too far.We hardly getting to watch any good cricket in a tri series or a quadrangular series.

The last time that I remember watching a tri nation tournament or a tournament involving three or more nations is the Asia Cup that was held somewhere in June-July in Karachi. And a week or so before that, we had a tri nation tournament just for the sake of it. A tri nation tournament involving Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, (Kitply Cup) with each team playing against each the other just and only once. And the earlier tri series before that Kitply Cup being the Common Wealth Bank series in Australia. And another triangular series that went off quietly in the mean time was a lesser known one in the series involving West Indies, Bermuda and Canada, held at Canada.

Meaning, in the past year or so, there were only four such multi nation tournaments featuring three or more countries. And only three out of four being major ones, the other one involving minnow nations. If the same is taken in the previous year, excluding that of the world cup, a tournament featuring Scotland, Irelands and the Netherlands is the only one that was being held. Even the earlier ones being held were like- Kenya-Scotland & Canada, ICC World Cricket League Division One which featured only minnows. Its frustrating that most of are not aware that we are really missing out on these tournaments. Even the Sharjah Cup that used to be played is now dropped, god knows why. I can't recall as to when the last Sharjah Cup was played. All I can remember is the one in which Jayasuriya scored 189 and India being all out for 54.

If one is aware, Natwest Series that is played every year in England is now played as a bi-lateral series in England since 2006. The last such triangular series that was played as a part of the Nat West series was in 2005 featuring Australia-England & Bangladesh. I really cannot figure out as to what made the English Cricket Authorities take such a step? Things were going on well.The only multi-nation tournament that can now be witnessed is the Common Wealth Bank series held in Australia in the beginning of every year. And news regarding this series in 2009 is not yet sure. Because, Australia will be playing New Zealand as a continuation of New Zealand's Oz tour from where they left after losing the test series 2-0.

From January 16th (the period during which C B series is usually played), there will be a 5 match ODI series involving Australia and South Africa, following which thre will be New Zealand-Autralia one day series. This one too being bi-lateral. So, no Common Wealth Bank Series this year? Aren't we really fed up with these boring bi-lateral series'? When ICC thinks about bringing in more colour to cricket, involving T20 cricket, and in addition to saving the test cricket, the ICC has to now look upon not to lose out on multi- nation tournaments featuring three or more nations. Else, even the one day matches would turn out to be like boring test matches, which do not attract crowds.