 "South Africa won the World Test Championship Final at Lord's this year. Reuters")
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has concluded its Annual Conference in Singapore, where several key decisions and updates were announced. The meeting saw some big topics discussed, from Olympic qualification to the future of Test cricket.
The meeting, attended by all Full Members and key Associates, also addressed concerns about USA Cricket’s ongoing troubles. But the biggest talking point was how to safeguard Test cricket and manage the balance between international and franchise cricket.
What’s next for Test, ODI, T20 cricket
According to Forbes, a special committee was formed at the AGM to look into issues around the three major formats - Tests, ODIs, and T20s. This working group includes representatives from India, England, and Australia as well as smaller nations like Zimbabwe and Namibia, who will co-host the 2027 World Cup.
The committee’s main task is to find ways to give more context and financial stability to Test cricket, ensure sustainable growth of T20 cricket, and manage player workload and availability in an era dominated by franchise leagues.
One major idea on the table is to reportedly split Test-playing nations into two divisions with promotion and relegation, making the World Test Championship more competitive. However, any changes in the format will have to wait for two more years.
“Any changes would be introduced for the next cycle of the World Test Championship, due to run from 2027 to 2029, and involve an expansion from the current nine-team format to two divisions of six,” according to a report in The Guardian.
Plan to drive growth via T20 cricket
Meanwhile, the report also suggests that no new members will be added to Test cricket in the near future, and it may stay like that forever. The Full Membership has also been put on hold for some time. Meanwhile, the ICC is planning to drive the growth of cricket through the T20 format with two new members joining the Associate members list.
At the same time, there are concerns over the talent drain from international cricket to cash-rich franchise leagues. The new working group will also consider whether players should be limited in the number of franchise leagues they can join. There is also a plan to restart the now-defunct T20 Champions League.