As the spotlight remains on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively working behind the scenes to restructure international cricket. A significant focus is on revamping the One Day International (ODI) format, which has faced growing criticism for being too favorable to batters. The ICC is now considering changes that could restore some balance between bat and ball—news that could come as a relief to bowlers around the world, including Indian pacer Mohammed Shami.

The current ODI rule, introduced in October 2011, mandates the use of two new balls—one from each end—for the entire 50-over innings. While this was initially intended to maintain the ball's hardness and visibility, it has unintentionally made life difficult for bowlers. Reverse swing, a crucial weapon for pacers in the latter stages of an innings, has almost disappeared. At the same time, spinners have struggled to extract any help, especially on flat, batting-friendly pitches.

Recognizing this imbalance, several cricketers, including Shami, have urged the ICC to reconsider the rule. Their request is to create conditions that once again allow for reverse swing and give bowlers a fair chance, particularly during the middle and death overs. If implemented, the proposed changes could revive the art of reverse swing and bring more excitement and competitiveness back into the ODI format.

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Sourav Ganguly-led committee brings crucial rule change recommendation for ODI cricket 

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has been re-appointed as the chairman of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee. Joining him on the panel are notable names from the cricketing world, including Hamid Hassan, Desmond Haynes, Temba Bavuma, VVS Laxman—who has also been re-appointed—and Jonathan Trott. The committee represents a diverse mix of cricketing experience across different eras and regions.

Under Ganguly's leadership, the newly formed committee has reportedly submitted several key recommendations to the ICC. Among them is a significant proposal to change an existing rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs), aiming to bring more balance between bat and ball and enhance the competitiveness of the format.

One ball can be used from 35th over

While each innings of the ODI innings now starts with two new balls, it will continue according to the new men's cricket committee, but with some tweaks. At the end of the 34th over, while each ball will be 17 overs older, the bowling side can choose which one of the two balls can be used for the last 16 overs of the innings. The other ball will be kept as the reserve ball in case it is needed.

After this recommendation, each cricket board is expected to bring the feedback by the end of this month. The ICC Annual General Meeting will be organised in July. If the boards give positive signals on this recommendation, it can be formalised in the playing conditions during the ICC AGM. ICC's board approval not required for this, as it is about the playing-condition change.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium will host an international game for the first time in 17 years. The city's old stadium will host May 2025 white-ball series between Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a great moment for Faisalabad because international cricket was not being organized there for several years.

The match will be One Day International - Wikipedia and T20 between Pakistan and Bangladesh and will be held in three cities, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The competitions will feature the best of both teams with heart-stopping cricketing action for the spectators.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium is famous for its cricket-loving supporters and will have an electric feel when it will host the eagerly awaited international game. The stadium has hosted various domestic games previously, but it had been nearly a decade since an international-grade game was planned there last in 2008. Now after nearly two decades, the stadium gates will once again open up for international cricketers and spectators.

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Lahore and Multan will be equally crucial centers in this series. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Multan's Multan Cricket Stadium are among the best grounds of Pakistan, and they have hosted more than enough wonderful cricket matches already. The white-ball series will be a grand spectacle for all three cities, as the crowd will get to see their home teams play at home.

This Bangladesh-Pakistan tournament will be significant for both sides as they build momentum for the future international tournaments. It is also the perfect time for cricket fans in these cities to witness good cricket firsthand.

Overall, this is a big win for cricket fans in Multan, Lahore, and Faisalabad, and something to look forward to for the sport of cricket in Pakistan.

A One Day International (ODI) is a limited-overs cricket match between two international teams, each with ODI status given by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Unlike Test matches, ODIs have a set number of overs per team, and each team plays only one innings.

India played their first ODI in 1974. Since then, 255 players have represented India in ODIs. India has played 1,055 ODIs, with 559 wins, 443 losses, 9 ties, and 44 no results. Their first series win was against England in 1981.

They won the Cricket World Cup in 1983 and 2011, and were runners-up in 2003 and 2023. India also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and shared the title with Sri Lanka in 2002. They have won the Asia Cup seven times.

Sachin Tendulkar debuting at 16 is India’s youngest ODI player, while Farokh Engineer debuting at 36 is the oldest. Anil Kumble is India’s top wicket taker in ODIs with 337 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar is the top run scorer with 18,426 runs and holds the record for most ODIs played (463) and most Man of the Match awards.

Rohit Sharma’s 264 runs against Sri Lanka is the highest individual ODI score. Sourav Ganguly holds the highest score by an Indian in a World Cup match with 183 runs against Sri Lanka.

India’s irst ODI match

On this day in 1974, India played its first ODI against England at Leeds, marking an important moment in Indian cricket history. Although ODIs started in 1971, it took three years for India to join this format.

England won the toss and decided to field first. India began steadily, with openers Sunil Gavaskar and Sudhir Naik putting together a 44-run partnership. Naik was the first to go, dismissed for 18 by Robin Jackman. Gavaskar followed soon after, bowled for 28 by Geoff Arnold.

Gundappa Vishwanath was out for a low score by Bob Woolmer, leaving India at 60/3. Ajit Wadekar and Farookh Engineer then had a 70-run partnership. Engineer was bowled by Chris Old for 32. Wadekar, who scored India’s first ODI fifty, was eventually out for 67 to Jackman at 181/5.

After Eknath Solkar’s dismissal, Brijesh Patel and Syed Abid Ali added 52 runs, taking India to 246. Ali was dismissed by Woolmer for 17. Patel’s 82 off 78 balls helped India reach a total of 265.

Chris Old was England’s best bowler, taking 3-43. Arnold, Woolmer, and Jackman each took two wickets, and Tony Greig took one.

England’s chase turning points and key players

Chasing 266, England’s Dennis Amiss was out for 20 by Eknath Solkar, leaving England at 37/1. David Lloyd and John Edrich steadied the innings with a 47-run partnership before Solkar dismissed Lloyd for 34. Mike Denness was dismissed for 8 by Madan Lal, caught by Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

England was at 96/3, but Edrich and Keith Fletcher built an 83-run stand. Bedi dismissed Fletcher for 39. Edrich, ten runs short of a century, was the fifth wicket to fall at 212, dismissed by Venkataraghavan.

Despite Tony Greig’s dismissal for 40 by Bedi, Alan Knott (15) and Chris Old (5) guided England to a four-wicket victory.

Eknath Solkar was India’s best bowler with 2-31.

Although India lost their first ODI, they have improved steadily over the years and by the 2020s, they became a formidable force in international cricket.