Dubai, Feb 5 (IANS): International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO David Richardson hopes the 11th World Cup will instil fresh energy into the One-Day International (ODI) format, whose popularity has been shrinking following the arrival of shorter Twenty20 version.

Crowd figures in 50-over games have fallen in the recent past and there is a fear the concept will become irrelevant following the rise of T20 and the traditional popularity of Tests.

However, former South African cricketer Richardson Thursday insisted the state of the ODI format is in a strong position globally.

"ODI cricket is strong in a number of countries. We’ve just seen a series recently in South Africa where there were full houses and you get good crowds in India and in most parts of the world,” Richardson said in an ICC release.

Richardson feels that the format helps evolution of the other two versions.

“I still think that ODI cricket is the perfect bridge between Test cricket, the long traditional form of the game, and the short, entertainment-filled T20. The 50-over game is a marvellous, day’s entertainment," he said.

"With the current ODI regulations encouraging a very attacking approach, be it towards batting, bowling or captaincy, I think that this World Cup will help cement the ODI’s place for the future.”

On how he would like the quadrennial tournament to be remembered, he added: “For good cricket, as major events are defined by the quality and competitiveness of cricket.”