‘Super Series will flop like Big Three’

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif has claimed that the ‘Super Series’ plan, involving England, Australia and India and a fourth team, will flop like the infamous Big Three model.   

England, Australia and India are discussing the possibility of creating a new yearly four-nations ODI tournament, involving the three nations and an extra country, which could begin as early as 2021.

"Australia, England, India and another top team will feature in the Super Series, which begins in 2021, and the first edition of the tournament will be played in India," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chief Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by Kolkata-based newspapers, according to espncricinfo.com.

According to details, the tournament will be held alternatively in England, Australia and India every year and is expected to last around a fortnight.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also confirmed that the plan was under consideration.

“We meet regularly with other leaders from the major cricketing nations to share learnings and discuss topics that impact our sport,” said an ECB statement according to The Telegraph. “A four-nation tournament was raised at a meeting with the BCCI in December and we are open to discussions with other ICC members to see if this concept can develop.”

Sharing his thoughts on the development, the former Pakistan said that the idea would put other countries at risk.

“By playing such a series, these four countries want to isolate the other member nations which is not good news.  But I think this will be a flop idea like the Big Three model, which was introduced few years back,” said Latif in a YouTube video.

In 2014 England, Australia and India were granted more executive powers and a greater share of revenue from ICC tournaments in a controversial move dubbed the ‘Big Three’ takeover.

The move did not last long as the BCCI was dealt a major blow at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai, during April 2017, when it was heavily out-voted on the governance structure and revenue model.