As expected, Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts lauded BCCI president Sourav Ganguly's idea of a four-nation ODI super series from 2021 onwards as a great innovation, although he stopped short of giving any commitment of participation. Ganguly just recently confirmed that an annual tournament featuring India, England, Australia and one other major ICC full-member is in line as they look to fight the ICC's plan to have an extra major world event included in the next eight-year cycle from 2023-31.
"I think it's an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president," PTI quoted Roberts as saying. "In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there. And now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation."
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Roberts will be in India next month at the sidelines of a scheduled three-match ODI series where further discussions in this regard would be held. The CEO will also be "talking about the importance of our future partnership" with the likes of Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand as the only way to make ICC revoke its exclusive idea of a world event each year is generating enough votes against it.
"We're really respectful of the importance of our international cricket relationships and our role as a leader in world cricket in supporting the development of cricket in other countries," he said.
"We're looking forward to hosting Afghanistan next year and that is an example of our commitment to world cricket. We have discussions with all member nations of the ICC and take really seriously our role to partner them and working together with them to grow the game around the world."
"Cricket is more or less a religion on the sub-continent. It's absolutely the favourite sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We've got to try and make sure we see the game emerging in countries all around the world."
(Inputs from PTI)
