ICC planning multi-million dollar fund to save Test cricket

Sydney, Aug 23: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is mulling a dedicated 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 was proposed by Cricket Australia (CA), has the support of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who is the front-runner to become the next ICC Chairman, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a report in The Sydney Morning Herald stated.
The fund would increase the minimum match payment for Test players and cover the cost of sending teams on overseas tours. It would support national boards like 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.
The fund is unlikely to benefit the three wealthiest cricket nations – India, Australia, and England – since they already offer substantial salaries to their players. (PTI)