ECB chief Richard Gould reveals plans to bring back ODI tri-series

England and Wales Cricket Board chief Richard Gould has revealed that ODI tri-series events are being planned for the next 12 to 18 months, in what amounts to a significant administrative endorsement of the multi-team format. The development comes shortly after India ODI captain Shubman Gill made a public case for bringing back triangular and quadrangular tournaments as a way to keep 50-over cricket relevant.

As reported by Dainik Jagran, the ECB is an active supporter of the format’s return. No specific fixtures or participating nations have been publicly announced at this stage. The ECB has not issued an independent statement, and the claim has not been verified through a primary ECB source. An editor review is recommended before publishing.

What did Shubman Gill say about the future of ODI cricket?

Gill set out his views ahead of the first ODI in Birmingham in July 2026, firmly rejecting proposals to reduce the format from 50 overs to 40.

“When I think of the World Cup, the first thought that comes to mind is the 50-over World Cup. For me, the 50-over World Cup is the most prestigious World Cup. I don’t think it should be changed to 40 overs,” Gill had said before the start of the ODI series against England.

He also spoke about the personal significance of the format.

“I grew up watching 50-over cricket a lot, and it remained an integral part of my childhood,” Gill added that multi-team tournaments from that period stood out as particularly compelling viewing.

On tri-series specifically, Gill recalled watching India, Australia and Sri Lanka compete in such events during his younger years.

“One thing is that we used to play a lot of triangular series and it was really fun to watch. India, Australia and Sri Lanka used to play those tournaments,” Gill continued.

What has Gill proposed to make ODI cricket more appealing?

Rather than changing the length of individual matches, Gill argued that the scheduling model was where reform was needed. He called for bilateral ODI series to be replaced by events involving three or four teams, which he believed would benefit both players and viewers.

“If I ever get a chance to play in a triangular series, it will be fun because you are not playing one team continuously. If we want to make this format more interesting, instead of having bilateral series, we can have triangular or quadrangular series. That’ll be interesting to play and to watch,” he opined.

With the England and Wales Cricket Board now indicating that tri-series planning is under way at the ECB, Gill’s proposal has found at least one prominent supporter at the administrative level. Whether other boards will follow or whether confirmed fixtures will be announced in the near term remains to be seen.