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Former Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has raised an intriguing proposal, advocating for the introduction of playoffs in ICC World Cup tournaments, particularly in the 50-over format.
The idea stems from a desire to provide the top two teams from the league stage with an additional chance to secure a spot in the final, a concept well-established in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Learning from IPL Success: The playoffs model
In the IPL, the playoffs format involves the top four teams in the points table of the round-robin league stage. The first and second-placed teams face off in Qualifier 1 for a direct berth to the final. Simultaneously, the third and fourth-placed teams engage in the Eliminator, with the winner progressing to challenge the loser of Qualifier 1 for a spot in the final. This playoff structure grants the top two teams an extra opportunity to qualify for the ultimate showdown. Contrastingly, ICC World Cups have traditionally adhered to the conventional knockout formats.
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Wasim Akram advocates Playoff format in ICC events
Akram proposed a playoff system for ICC tournaments, aiming to shield top-performing teams from elimination due to a solitary off day.
“These days every league is played in a playoff format. Because you worked so hard to come that far, you don’t want one bad day to end it,” Akram said speaking to ASports
Should there be playoffs instead of semi-finals in ICC events? Legendary pacer @wasimakramlive opines.#ASportsHD #ARYZAP #CWC23 #ThePavilion #ShoaibMalik #MoinKhan #FakhreAlam #MisbahulHaq #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/wnjMt8A0PN
— ASports (@asportstvpk) November 19, 2023
This idea aligns with the notion of offering deserving teams a fair chance to recover from a single setback and adds an element of resilience to the tournament structure. The proposition, if implemented, could potentially reshape the dynamics of future ICC World Cup competitions.
