ICC Eyes World Club T20
Edinburgh, July 6: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a major restructuring of the international cricket calendar, with the possibility of launching a World Club T20 Championship as part of a long-term strategy to address the rapid growth of franchise leagues around the world.
The proposed competition, which would bring together leading T20 franchise teams, is among several recommendations emerging from a strategic review being conducted by consultancy firm McKinsey. The proposals are expected to be discussed by the ICC’s 12 Full Member nations during the governing body’s annual general meeting in Edinburgh.
If approved, the tournament would effectively revive the concept of the Champions League T20, which was jointly organised by the cricket boards of India, Australia and South Africa from 2009 to 2014 before being discontinued due to limited commercial success.
Besides the proposed World Club T20 Championship, the ICC is also examining the introduction of fixed windows for each format of the game, continental tournaments similar to the Asia Cup, and possible changes to the structure of one-day internationals.
However, any major changes are unlikely to take effect immediately, with the current Future Tours Programme already finalised through 2031.According to the proposals, the ICC aims to create a more balanced international calendar that allows Test cricket, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals to coexist sustainably. One suggestion under consideration is limiting most ODI cricket to the 18 months leading up to a World Cup.The governing body is also reviewing the possibility of expanding the World Test Championship to 12 teams. However, proposals that could give the ICC greater control over bilateral cricket are expected to face resistance from major boards such as those of England, India and Australia, which rely heavily on bilateral series for revenue.
The discussions come as cricket administrators seek ways to protect the international game amid the growing influence of privately owned T20 leagues, which continue to attract top players and audiences across the globe. (Agencies)
