One-day cricket was without a doubt the most popular format among cricket players and spectators from the 1980s through the first decade of the 2000s. One-day cricket was developed with the intent of expanding the game's appeal and fan base. The format quickly gained popularity and grabbed the attention of more unconventional cricket fans, and thus the purpose was fulfilled. However, ODI cricket has been experiencing an existential crisis since the ICC introduced T20 in 2005. Is it time for the ICC to reevaluate the future of the ODI format? How did the ODI format help cricket gain popularity? Australia and England played the first-ever ODI match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on January 5, 1971. Initially, it started off as a Test match, but it rained out for the first three days. The two sides then opted to play a one-day match with 40 overs (eight balls each over) for each side. Australia won the inaugural ODI by five wickets, creating history. Fans witnessed aggression from the batters; fielders were more active in the field to save runs; and there was urgency as the overs were limited. These factors during the match made the spectators more interested in the format. The ICC realized that limited overs is the future of cricket, at least to reach a wider audience. Read West Indies vs India Series 2022: Head-to-Head Stats and Full Fixtures The International Cricket Council decided to organize a World Cup event every four years. The first edition of the competition was held in 1975 in England. One-day cricket is played in white dress and with a red ball. The ICC organized the first three ODI World Cups with 60-overs per side, which was reduced to 50-overs per side from the 1987 edition. In the meantime, Kerry Packer, an Australian media tycoon, established a World Series of Cricket competition, in which he introduced coloured uniforms, floodlights, white-ball and dark sight screens, etc. The World Series took place between 1977 and 1979. Inspired by the Kerry Packer vision for one-day cricket, the ICC later realized that making some changes was necessary to give a new look to the format. Therefore, coloured player clothing, white-ball, black sight screens, and floodlights were introduced in the 1992 World Cup. Tri-nation and four-nation series were played regularly between the ICC’s full member teams in the 80s and 90s, which was massively popular back then. The ODI cricket series in the UAE in the late 80s and early 90s was also popular among cricket fans worldwide. The format undoubtedly helped the ICC to attract more nations to become associate members of the organization. In terms of the economic aspect, the ICC had benefited a lot. They were able to take more initiatives for the development of the game in the associated nations. Read ICC T20 World Cup 2022: How Hard is Bangladesh’s Group 2? The aggressiveness of the batters, the variety of the bowlers, the athleticism of the fielders, and the interesting rules for the limited-overs format made people more interested in cricket, which Test cricket couldn’t offer. Many popular cricket stars dominated ODI cricket from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. Fans were keen to see the star cricketers play for their countries in the ODI format. Overall, the one-day format laid the foundation to popularize cricket on a global platform. The ODI World Cup always draws more spectators. One of the most popular sporting events in the world in 2019 was the 50-over Cricket World Cup, which was played in the UK. According to reports, 1.6 billion people watched the 2019 Cricket World Cup, while 4.6 billion people saw videos related to the tournament. More importantly, the UK's economy benefited by 352.6 million pounds overall. Although these numbers are quite impressive, the ODI format is slowly being overshadowed by T20I cricket.  Read Fixture revealed for matches between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh The introduction of T20 and how has it affected the one-day format's existence? The ICC introduced T20 cricket in 2005 with the goal of creating a new format with a shorter game duration than the previous two formats in order to compete with other international sports. People don't have to watch a match in the stadium for eight hours because the Twenty20 format can be finished in three and a half hours. The first T20I match was held between Australia and New Zealand on February 17, 2005, which the Aussie side won by 44 runs. Two years later, the ICC organized the first-ever World Twenty20 tournament in 2007. India won the inaugural edition of the competition by beating Pakistan in the final. The championship match between India and Pakistan was the 10th most watched global TV event in the year 2007. The International Cricket Council realized they had discovered a lucrative format after the first ICC T20 World Cup, which helped to even further popularize cricket. It was agreed to hold the competition every two years by cricket's highest regulatory body. The ICC has hosted seven T20 World Cups since 2007, and every one of them has been a huge success. Besides, the domestic T20 competitions started to kick off in the late years of the first decade of 2000. Read ENG vs SA 2022: Revived South Africa hope to win ODI series in Manchester According to reports, India have contributed 70% of the ICC's total revenue, implying that they have a larger market than other cricketing nations. With more than 1.2 billion people who are crazy about cricket, the BCCI had no doubt that forming a domestic T20 competition would be a huge success. The success of the ICL, a private cricket league, also encouraged the Indian Cricket Board to introduce a franchise-based T20 cricket league. The massive interest in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 encouraged other cricket boards to launch domestic Twenty20 competitions in their respective countries. The following years, the cricket world saw the formation of the BBL, BPL, SPL, CPL, and PSL. Besides, many T20 cricket leagues are staged each year nowadays across the world. The richest cricket league in the world, the IPL, recently made a broadcast deal worth $6.2 billion for the next five years (2023–2027). This is an astronomical number, which suggests that the T20 format is the future of cricket in terms of economic aspects and to globalize the game. The ICC is also keen to promote the T20 format in the new territory rather than the one-day format. In the recent FTP fixtures, the number of ODIs has reduced significantly compared to the past. Read WI vs IND ODI Series 2022: India eye whitewash, Windies aim strong show From a player’s perspective, playing three formats is both physically and mentally draining. The former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram, the current South Africa wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock, the Australian batter Usman Khawaja and a host of ex and present cricketers, journalists and pundits have talked about the necessity of ODI cricket in the current scenario. They believe playing three formats at a time is very difficult for a player. A 50-over game has become "run-of-the-mill," according to Akram, while Khawaja believes the ODI format is slowly dying but the Test format will thrive. England’s World Cup 2019 winning star, Ben Stokes, recently announced his retirement from one-day international cricket, citing a demanding international schedule as the reason for his decision. Ben Stokes’ decision to step aside from the one-day format, indicating his preference for playing Test cricket and support for the Twenty20 format in limited-overs cricket. Let's take a look at how many Test, ODI, and T20 international matches have been played from 2017 to 2021 and 2012 to 2016 and see the increase in T20I matches in the last five years. Read Asia Cup 2022 moved from Sri Lanka to UAE: Ganguly The number of Test, ODI, and T20 international matches from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016  Format Matches Test 217 ODI 592 T20I 357    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ The number of Test, ODI, and T20 international matches from January 1, 2017 to December 31 2021  Format Matches Test 200 ODI 522 T20I 879    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ The statistics above demonstrate unequivocally that the ICC currently favors Twenty20 cricket over ODIs. Between January 2017 and December 2021, more than 800 T20I matches were played, as opposed to just over 500 ODI matches. However, the most important fact is that whereas just 357 Twenty20 International matches were played between 2012 and 2016, 879 of them were played between 2017 and 2021.  Read BAN vs ZIM T20I Series 2022: Nurul Hasan to lead young Bangladesh side These statistics will continue to increase in the upcoming ICC FTP fixtures given how the T20 format is growing in popularity among general cricket fans. On the other hand, the number of games has remained constant in the Test format. Way Forward The ICC will always support Test cricket given that it's the game's traditional format. However, the one-day and Twenty20 formats require cricket's highest regulating body to make a sensible decision. The one-day format was primarily designed to increase the game's popularity. The success of ODI cricket over the past 50 years demonstrates that the mission was achieved. However, the audience test has evolved lately as more people now want entertainment that is more condensed and less time-consuming. From both a commercial and popular perspective, T20 cricket should be the ICC's preferred brand. The one-day format has begun to lose its appeal since the introduction of T20, and in the future, this trend will continue. Additionally, it's challenging for the players to remain consistent and fit for all formats. The need for ODI cricket has been voiced by the cricketing community, and this may influence the ICC's decision in the years to come. Now time will say what will be the future of ODI cricket. Read BAN vs ZIM 2022: 5 Bangladeshi players who can capitalize on Zimbabwe series

Tamim Iqbal informed the BCB president last year that he was not keen on playing the T20 format for the Bangladesh national side, emphasizing the upcoming young talents to fill his shoes in the opening slot. The veteran batter missed all bilateral Twenty20 series following the Covid-19 outbreak, including the 2021 T20 World Cup, but did not formally retire from the format until Saturday (July 16). Tamim officially quit T20I international cricket by posting a short message on his verified Facebook account. Will BCB find any potential replacements for Tamim Iqbal in the T20 format? A look at Tamim Iqbal's T20I career Tamim Iqbal made his T20I debut against Kenya in September 2007 and played his last match in the format against Zimbabwe in March 2020. The veteran left-hand opener is the only player to score a century for Bangladesh in the T20 format, achieving the feat against Oman (103*) in the 2016 ICC World T20. Tamim Iqbal finished his T20I career as the third-highest run scorer of Bangladesh, behind Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan. Tamim also holds the record of three of the top five best T20I innings by Bangladeshi players. Read SL vs PAK Test Series 2022: Fixtures, Venues, H2H Records Bangladesh's top five T20I run scorers  Player Match Runs HS SR Mahmudullah 118 2043 64* 117.88 Shakib Al Hasan 99 2010 84 120.86 Tamim Iqbal 74 1701 103* 117.47 Mushfiqur Rahim 100 1495 72* 115.44 Soumya Sarkar 66 1136 68 122.15    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read 3rd ODI: Tremendous Taijul takes five as Bangladesh wrap WI for 178 Tamim Iqbal's potential suitors in T20I cricket There are hardly many choices available for the opening slot in Bangladesh's T20I lineup. Litton Das is most likely to open the innings for Bangladesh in the coming fixtures. The selectors, therefore, have to find a suitable partner for Litton in the T20 format. To keep the 2022 T20 World Cup in mind, the BCB needs to pick a player from those who have played for the national side in the last 18 months. The BCB selectors may want to have a look at the following options. Mohammad Naim T20I batting stats since January 1, 2021 M: 28 | Runs: 590 | HS: 64 | Ave: 21.85 | SR: 98.82 Left-handed batter Mohammad Naim started his T20I career with a lot of promise. Though Naim’s recent performances have been below par. He has been given the most chances (28 matches) to open the innings for Bangladesh. However, Naim’s strike rate is under 100, and the average is just over 20. With the current form, Mohammad Naim’s chances of making the playing XI in the coming fixtures are highly unlikely. Read Tamim announces T20I retirement Munim Shahriar T20I batting stats since January 1, 2021 M: 3 | Runs: 23 | HS: 17 | Ave: 7.66 | SR: 74.19 Munim Shahriar was given a chance in the Afghanistan series after a brilliant performance in the BPL 2022. He has so far played three T20Is for Bangladesh and hasn’t made any significant impact with the bat. The BCB may give Munim Shahriar more chances in the coming twenty20 fixtures to showcase his talent on the international stage. Anamul Haque T20I batting stats since January 1, 2021 M: 3 | Runs: 29 | HS: 16 | Ave: 9.66 | SR: 116.00 Anamul Haque had a fantastic start to his international career but couldn’t keep up the momentum later and subsequently lost his place in the national team. He recently had a record-breaking season in the DPL 2022. Following the 2022 DPL season, Anamul was given another chance on the just-concluded West Indies tour. He once again fell short of expectations, though. Anamul may be given a few more chances in the upcoming T20I matches. Read Bangladesh clinch a clean sweep against West Indies in ODIs Najmul Hossain Shanto T20I batting stats since January 1, 2021 M: 1 | Runs: 5 | HS: 5 | Ave: 5 | SR: 11.11 Najmul Hossain Shanto’s chances to find a place in the opening slot are very slim as he is considered for the longer-version format. However, the BCB may turn their attention to him if others fail to live up to their expectations. The above players' overall T20I statistics Player Match Runs HS SR Mohammad Naim 34 809 81 103.71 Munim Shahriar 3 23 17 74.19 Anamul Haque 16 384 58 117.79 Najmul Hossain Shanto 6 76 40 100    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read WI vs BAN Series 2022: Top 7 performers from Bangladesh team Aftermath   The Bangladesh Cricket Board's selections have experimented with a number of players to fill Tamim Iqbal's opening position. However, none of the opening batters has been consistent enough over the course of Bangladesh's 32 games during the past 18 months. Therefore, finding a suitable alternative for Tamim Iqbal in the opening position of the T20 format may not be possible any time soon. Bangladesh may struggle in the top order at the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in the absence of Tamim Iqbal, who used to anchor the innings to the end.

Bangladeshi world famed all rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerged as the only crickter in the world to score 1000 runs and grabbed 100 wickets in T20I Cricket on Monday. Shakib, who entered the field against Australia in the 5th and last match of the T20 series on Monday with 98 wickets, reached the milestone of grabbing 100 wickets dismissing Aussie captain Mathew Wade (22 runs) and Aston Turner (1) in his 83 innings of 84 T20 matches in Mirpur. Read: Nightmarish outing of Shakib costs Bangladesh 4th T20I He finally grabbed four wickets conceding nine runs with a maiden in 3. 4 over spell raising his tally to 102 wickets and was adjudged player of the match and player of the series against Australia. Shakib, who completed 1000 runs in T20 long time ago, presently scored 1718 runs to be the 2nd Bangladeshi crickter in the format after Tamim Iqbal, who made 1758 runs in 78 matches. Indian captain Virat Kohli topped the list contributing 3159 runs in 90 matches. Read: BAN vs AUS 2021: Shakib Al Hasan On Verge of Achieving Two Unique Milestones Shakib is the second bowler to complete 100 wickets in the format after Sri Lanka’s retired bowler Lasith Malinga, who grabbed 107 wickets , also in 83 innings of 84 matches. With the day's feat, Bangladesh earned a thumping win by a big margin of 60 runs, their second-biggest in terms of runs in the fifth and final T20I on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. While chasing a target of 123, Australia tumbled for 62— their lowest total in T20Is . Their previous lowest in the format was 79 for 10 against England in 2005. Australia took only 13.4 over to get dismissed— they never lost all of their wickets in international cricket faster than this innings. Audtria lost seven wickets in 14 runs from 48 to 62. Read:BAN vs. ZIM 2021: Shakib Breaks Kallis' Record Shakib gave away 50 in the previous game in four overs— his worst bowling figures in T20Is— and subsequently, Bangladesh lost the match by three wickets.  With the win in Monday’s game, Bangladesh sealed the series 4-1. It was Bangladesh’s first-ever series win against Australia in any format of international cricket. Before this series, Bangladesh faced Australia in four matches but lost all of them. 

Bangladesh national team ended their practice camp in Queenstown with an intra-squad practice game on Tuesday. The Tigers are now set to travel to Dunedin for the first match of the three-match ODI series starting from March 20. 

Bangladesh will be touring New Zealand for a three-match ODI and T20I series next month without Shakib Al Hasan who has been granted paternal leave by the BCB.