New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning a dedicated multimillion dollar fund to try and save the longest format of the game. Test cricket, which has taken a backseat since the inception of the shortest format – the T20 cricket, needs proper attention, believes the apex cricketing body.
How ICC is planning to save Test cricket
For this, the ICC is mulling a fund of at least USD 15 million for Test cricket that will help increase the players’ match fee and address the migration of talent to lucrative T20 franchise leagues. The initiative, which was proposed by Cricket Australia (CA), has full support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and also the England and Wales Cricket Board.
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, the ICC has full support from three powerhouses – the BCCI, CA and ECB. The report further suggest that the fund allocated for the longest format would increase the minimum match payment for Test players and cover the cost of sending teams on overseas tours.
This would also lend a helping hand towards national boards like the the West Indies that currently struggle to compete with the wages offered in global T20 competitions.
“The fund would ensure a minimum Test payment for all players, thought to be USD 10,000, and pay the costs of overseas tours for struggling countries,” the report stated. “It’s fantastic to see some momentum behind the Test match fund,” CA chairman Mike Baird, who floated the concept in January. We need to take away the barriers and encourage Test cricket to be the best of the best. To retain that history and that legacy, which goes alongside the newer forms of white ball cricket,” he added.
The fund is unlikely to benefit the three wealthiest cricket nations – India, Australia, and England since they already offer substantial salaries to their players. However, all the three big players in world cricket have decided to ensure full support to the apex cricket body in whichever manner it would be required.
The BCCI had introduced an incentive scheme for India’s men’s Test cricketers earlier this year to encourage players to prioritise Test cricket and reward consistent performances in the longest format of the game.
(With PTI inputs)
With help from India, Australia and England, who are considered as three powerhouses in world cricket, ICC is planning to save the Test cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
