Wednesday, October 13, 2010

ICC approves creation of Test Championship

The International Cricket Council has approved the creation of a Test Championship and has also called for a creation of an ODI league.

During the ICC meeting held in Dubai, the following recommendations were approved by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee:

1. The FTP should consist of a Test league to provide context for all Test matches. The league would determine the top four teams to qualify for an ICC Test play-off

2. The play-off should be held once every four years to determine the Test champion team with a request to hold the first such play-off in 2013

3. The FTP should also consist of a One-Day International league, the first to run from April 2011 until April 2014, culminating in the crowning of an ODI league champion. This would run separate to the ICC Cricket World Cup

4. The ICC Cricket World Cup should consist of a 10-team format from 2015

5. The ICC World Twenty20 should consist of a 16-team format from 2012, with the women's event continuing to run alongside

6. The introduction of Twenty20 International rankings table as soon as this is justifiable.

The Board agreed that any discussion of performance-related ranking and the issue of qualification for ICC global events, including finding opportunities for Associate Members to play ODI cricket, should be considered by the ICC Governance Committee and a recommendation brought back to the Board.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Restructuring international cricket is a significant strategic challenge and one that must be dealt with. We have now agreed in principle to exciting and far-reaching proposals to tackle this most important issue.

"Achieving balance and unanimous agreement is not easy but we have responded well to a strategic priority to restructure international cricket. The proposals, especially introducing more meaningful context, means we now have the potential to follow international cricket that is even more exciting."

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011:

ICC chief Executive said he was happy with the progress made by the venues for the 2011 WOrld Cup.

Lorgat said: "We are pleased with the considerable progress made particularly in the areas of venue preparation and security."

"The ICC Cricket World Cup is the ICC's flagship event which will provide a showcase for some of the best players who have ever played this great game and it will also provide the world with a glimpse of the colour and passion for cricket that exists in the host nations.

"This is an exciting time for cricket. We have just witnessed two thrilling Test matches between India and Australia which have demonstrated the strength and the enduring appeal of the longest form of the game. We have some more mouthwatering contests such as the Ashes and India's visit to South Africa, the top two teams in the world, before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011."

"Earlier this year we witnessed the West Indies stage a wonderfully successful ICC World Twenty20 and now we have the prospect of a truly spectacular ICC Cricket World Cup, the opening match of which will take place in Dhaka on 19 February when Bangladesh takes on India. To us, this demonstrates the viability and continued success of the three formats of our great sport."

Decision Review System:

Decision Review System (DRS)

The three host countries confirmed to the ICC Board that the Decision Review System (DRS) should be used in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka subject to ensuring the reliability of ball-tracking technology. The Board agreed that Hotspot technology would also be used in the semi-finals and final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Mr Lorgat said: "I have agreed with Cricket Australia to attend the Ashes matches between Australia and England with representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to understand the successful application of the technology and its contribution to correct umpiring decisions."

The ICC Executive Board also agreed to explore sponsorship for the DRS and the revenues generated from this will be distributed among those Members who have pooled their rights, after costs have been deducted. Members who do not pool their rights will be free to exploit such rights themselves.
© ICC

No comments: