Dubai, April 10: A working group within the ICC will put forth a proposal to its Board of Directors suggesting expansion of the number of countries playing in the World Test Championship from 9 to 12, with the inclusion of Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland during the next cycle starting 2027.
It is believed that the working group headed by the former New Zealand Test batter Roger Twose have also proposed one-off Test series as a part of the next cycle.
“The working group will also recommend allowing one-off Tests to count towards the points accrued over the league’s two-year cycle,” ESPN Cricinfo reported.
It is understandable that if one-off Tests are squeezed into the next cycle with possible expansion to 12 teams, it will also mean that the game’s commercial leaders India could help out an Ireland or Zimbabwe by playing one-off Test matches.
As of now, two-Test bilateral series is part of the WTC point cycle.
For example, India will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test in June at Mullanpur in Punjab but the result of that match will have no bearing on the WTC points table.
However, it remains to be seen whether the ICC Board headed by Jay Shah decides on expansion considering the tight schedules with three formats in place, choc-a-bloc bilateral calendar and exponential growth of franchise league across the globe. It must be noted that the ICC Board had shot down Twose’s proposal for two-tier Test structure.
As the International Cricket Council stands at a crossroads in shaping the future of the longest format, the proposed expansion of the World Test Championship carries both promise and complexity in equal measure.
On one hand, bringing in emerging Test nations like Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland would breathe fresh life into red-ball cricket, widening its competitive landscape and offering these teams a more consistent platform to grow.
On the other, the already congested international calendar — squeezed between bilateral commitments and the ever-expanding footprint of franchise leagues — poses a significant logistical challenge. The idea of incorporating one-off Tests into the WTC cycle, while innovative, may further test the balance between sporting merit and commercial viability, especially if leading nations like India are expected to shoulder a greater share of responsibility in supporting smaller boards. Ultimately, the decision rests with the ICC Board under the stewardship of Jay Shah, and whether it chooses to prioritise inclusivity over convenience could well determine the trajectory of Test cricket in the years to come.
For now, the proposal opens up an intriguing debate — one that pits tradition against transformation, and asks a simple yet profound question: can the purest form of the game evolve without losing its soul? (PTI)
