Moeen Ali, the 2019 World Cup champion from England, has expressed his belief that One Day Internationals (ODIs) represent the "worst format to play," asserting that the 50-over game is nearly "dying" due to the current regulations. The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 will showcase the top eight teams globally; however, the event has struggled to engage audiences, with numerous matches failing to attract full stadiums.

Even high-profile matches, such as those between India and Pakistan or India and Australia, initially experienced sparse attendance. Although the Dubai International Stadium saw increased crowds later in the games, the overall lack of enthusiasm has been evident.

Having participated in 138 ODIs for England, Moeen Ali criticized the current rules as "terrible." He highlighted the introduction of two new balls and the addition of an extra fielder within the circle following the first powerplay as detrimental to the game.

"The format has nearly faded away, except for World Cups and the Champions Trophy. It is the least favourable format to play, and I believe there are numerous reasons for this," Moeen stated during an interview with Talksport Cricket.

He elaborated, "The rules are quite poor. The presence of an extra fielder after the first powerplay is a dreadful rule for taking wickets and creating pressure. Players are now averaging 60 or 70 in ODIs because of this."

Previously, after the first powerplay, five fielders were allowed outside the circle, but this has recently changed to four, which is considered a significant factor contributing to the increase in scoring in ODIs.

"When you apply pressure while bowling, the batsman can simply reverse-sweep, and it often results in a boundary rather than just a single. The batters always have that scoring option available," he remarked.

'You have two new balls'

Moeen Ali expressed his concerns regarding the impact of two new balls on the game, noting that this change has led to the decline of reverse swing and diminished the skill involved in playing with a softer ball.

"With the introduction of two new balls, the reverse swing is lost, and the finesse of striking a softer ball has vanished," he remarked.

"The focus has shifted to hitting the ball cleanly and powerfully, resulting in a game that feels less nuanced. I believe this has contributed to the decline of 50-over cricket," Moeen further stated.

Additionally, Moeen Ali indicated that the trend of players retiring early from international cricket to participate in global T20 leagues is likely to continue.

"Franchise cricket is unfortunately overshadowing traditional formats, primarily due to the substantial financial incentives involved. The amounts being offered are so significant that many players find it hard to refuse. This situation is quite challenging," he noted.

"There are likely individuals who will choose to retire from international cricket in the coming years to pursue opportunities in franchise cricket," Moeen concluded.

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