A new Super League to determine qualification for the 50-over World Cup will launch this week but the governing body warned Monday that the cost of staging international cricket will inevitably rise because of the coronavirus pandemic. World champions England and Ireland will hold the first match in the 13-nation league in Southampton on Thursday. The seven top-placed nations in the Super League will join hosts India in getting automatic places for the 2023 World Cup.

The International Cricket Council's 12 full members and the Netherlands will take part with each side playing four home and four away three-match series. COVID-19 has brought havoc to the cricket calendar, with the 50-over and T20 World Cups pushed back. The start of the Super League was also delayed because of the pandemic. ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said it was working with national boards to find dates for the Super League to be "safely and practically rescheduled" even as "costs will go up" as international cricket returns to action.