The imminent death of bilateral ODI cricket

Test cricket is safe for now, with the World Test Championship (WTC) scheduled at least till 2029. Which means that bilateral series with a few Tests will continue at least for the next seven years. But Test matches hardly earn any revenue, so there are bound to be a few T20 Internationals sprinkled here and there during the tours.

It’s clear that franchise T20 leagues are the future of cricket.

Over ten years, it has estimated costs at USD 56 million and revenue at USD 119 million, which will leave the board with a profit of USD 63 million, which is a lot more money than it makes from bilateral cricket. And that's only the benefit to CSA. From its first year, the league will pay players bumper salaries in US dollars, which dwarf the Rand ... See more

CSA is in this position because, quite simply, it’s not as powerful and influential as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In fact, the South African board is in rather dire straits. Its cash reserves as per its 2020-21 annual report were US$32.3 million, down from US$740 million in 2017, according to Cricbuzz. The BCCI, meanwhile, ju... See more