Two-Tier Test Format Could Relegate Pakistan – Reports
British media said on Monday that the Pakistan men’s cricket team is likely to be put in the second division of the planned two-tier system for Test cricket.
A report says that the International Cricket Council (ICC) set up an eight-member working group at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to look into the options for the divisional Test systems. The body is led by Sanjog Gupta, who is also the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA). Its job is to give the top cricket organisation suggestions by the end of 2025.
The report further said that the proposed formula is likely to be used in the next ICC World Test Championship (WTC), which would take place from 2027 to 2029.
Because of this, the next WTC cycle will be bigger, with the number of teams going from nine to twelve. The 12 teams will then be split into two groups of six, with the first group having the best teams, like South Africa, Australia, India, England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, who are the current WTC champions.
The second division would include Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies. Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland are also likely to join the expanded version of the WTC. But one of the most significant changes in the sport’s 133-year history will need two-thirds of the ICC’s 12 full members to agree. The largest discussion will be about how to promote and demote teams.
Also, the suggested method might mean that teams in the second divisions need more money to get started. The idea for a two-tier Test system originally came up in January of last year during meetings between CA and ECB during the women’s Ashes.
The CA has been the loudest voice for a two-tier Test system. They say that the “Big Three” countries—Australia, England, and India—should play each other twice every three years instead of two series every four years.
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