The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally agreed to conduct the long-awaited Test Championship in and a One Day International (ODI) League. the world governing body has also welcomed the countries to experiment with four-day tests. Nine teams will participate in the Test Championship while twelve teams will play the ODI League.
What is the World Test Championship all about?
While speaking to media personnel in Auckland, ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said that while details still needed to be worked out, the test championship would commence after the 50-overs World Cup in 2019 and culminate with a final in mid-2021. The series can be a minimum of two matches and maximum of five, with all tests to be five days in length. The top-two teams in April 2021 will meet in the final two months later.
The exact schedule of the Championship is yet to be finalised. On the other hand, the ICC has decided that nine Test playing nations will be playing three series at home and away against each other.
About the ODI League
Richardson added that a 13-team ODI league would be introduced from 2021 and determine which teams qualify for the World Cup in India two years later.
A new nine team Test league and 13 team ODI league have been agreed in principle by members at ICC Board meeting.https://t.co/ZKpzU1dbYF pic.twitter.com/US3jWwUPCO
— ICC (@ICC) October 13, 2017
Words from the ICC Chief
Richardson said,”The approval of both leagues is the conclusion of two years of work from the members who have explored a whole range of options to bring context to every game. The ICC Board decision means we can now go and finalise a playing schedule as well as the points system, hosting arrangements and competition terms.”
Richardson also mentioned that the countries were welcome to experiment with four-day test matches but they would not count towards the championship. South Africa will play Zimbabwe in cricket’s first four-day test on December 26, however, Richardson said that while the concept was still in the trial phase it should help Afghanistan and Ireland, who were granted test status in June, get up to speed faster.
He said,”Four-day tests will also provide the new test-playing countries with more opportunities to play the longer version of the game against more experienced opponents, which, in turn, will help them to hone their skills and close the gap with the top nine ranked teams.”
Will India play Pakistan?
Now, it will be interesting to see India and Pakistan facing each other in a world series. India have refused to play any bilateral series with Pakistan but the two sides have played each other in ICC tournaments, most prominently in the final of the Champions Trophy earlier in the year.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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