Kolkata: The ICC on Friday approved the concepts of a nine-team Test league and a 13-team ODI league to be held in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The schedules for the same would be finalised.
In the Test series league, nine teams would play a total of six series each for two years-three at home and three abroad and each team would have to play a minimum of two tests and a maximum of five tests which would then lead to the World Test League Championship Final.
The ODI league on the other hand would be a direct gateway to qualify for the World Cup where all the the 12 full members along with the winner of the ICC World Cricket League Championship. The first edition of the league would see four teams play four series at home and four abroad where each series would have three matches. The second edition would see all the teams playing each other.
As quoted by an ICC press release, it’s chairman Shashank Manohar said, “I would like to congratulate our Members on reaching this agreement and putting the interests of the development of the game first. Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but this is the first time a genuine solution has been agreed on.”
“This means fans around the world can enjoy international cricket knowing every game counts and in the case of the ODI league, it counts towards qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup,” he added.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, “This is a significant point in time for ICC Members and our collective desire to secure a vibrant future for international bilateral cricket. 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.”
He also added, “The ICC Board decision today means we can now go and finalise a playing schedule for the first edition as well as the points system, hosting arrangements and competition terms.”
Apart from this, the ICC board have a green signal to four-day Test matches to be played till the 2019 World Cup. These matches would have to be scheduled by the members themselves according to bilateral agreement and only the standardised playing rules need to be finalised.
Richardson said, “Our priority was to develop an international cricket structure that gave context and meaning across international cricket and particularly in the Test arena. This has been delivered and every Test in the new League will be a five-day Test format.
“However throughout the discussions about the future of Test cricket it became clear that whilst context is crucial we must also consider alternatives and trial initiatives that may support the future viability of Test cricket. The trial is exactly that, a trial, just in the same way day-night Tests and technology have been trialled by Members.
“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.”
Other decisions were also taken by the ICC Board in Auckland. Zimbabwe has been confirmed to be the venue of the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, which would begin from March 2018.
Namibia has also been selected to host the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in February 2018 and Netherlands would be the venue for the Women’s World T20 Qualifier 2018.
The process of appointing the ICC female independent director has also been finalised and the recruitment for the same is set to begin next week.
A revised draft for the Player Eligibility Regulations has also been approved by the Board and it would soon come into effect.
The changes made, according to an ICC press release are-
Eligibility on the basis of nationality (residency) has changed to the player needing to reside in country for a three-year period in both the men’s and women’s games. Eligibility on the basis of nationality (passport and birth) remains unchanged.
- Once a player has qualified to represent a country and has represented that country, he/she shall be considered eligible to play for that country forever more, without having to demonstrate satisfaction of the nationality eligibility criteria at subsequent events or matches.
- The stand out periods which apply when a player seeks to transfer and play for a second country have been amended to a flat three-year period regardless of membership status and gender.
- Given the change to the residency criteria, any player who has qualified for and represented a country in the three-year period leading up to the effective date of the new Regulations, will be deemed to be eligible for that country moving forward, and will not have to demonstrate satisfaction of the new residency criteria.
- Gender Recognition Policy and U19 Age Determination Policy incorporated into Player Eligibility Regulations and one universal disciplinary process will apply to all eligibility matters.
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