Pak to oppose ICC's new Test system
Recently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formed an eight-member working group, headed by Sanjog Gupta, to explore the possibility of restructuring the World Test Championship.
The group includes key figures such as England Cricket Board CEO Richard Gould and Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg. They are expected to present their recommendations to the ICC Board by the end of the year.
The proposal seeks to divide the current nine-team format into two divisions of six teams each, possibly starting with the 2027-2029 World Test Championship cycle. The new structure would require a two-thirds majority vote from the ICC's 12 full members to be implemented.
Under this model, the top six teams in the current ICC Test rankings, Australia, South Africa, England, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka would likely form Division One.
Teams ranked lower, such as Pakistan (7th), West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe, face relegation to Division Two.
Sources within the PCB have confirmed the board's strong opposition to the plan.
"Cricket is not the property of just a few powerful nations," said a senior official. "Smaller teams can only improve if they are given regular opportunities to play against top-level competition," he added.
The official added that while Pakistan may secure its place in Division One by improving its ranking in the coming year, the board is advocating on behalf of all developing cricket nations.
"What will happen to Bangladesh and West Indies? How will they improve by only playing each other?" the official questioned.
Pakistan has faced criticism for allegedly not prioritizing Test cricket, but the PCB insists this is inaccurate. While only 5 Test matches are scheduled for Pakistan this year. Among them, they suffered a defeat against South Africa in Cape Town, while the 2-Test home series against West Indies ended in a 1-1 draw. Now, two Test matches will be played against South Africa in October and November. The schedule for 2026 includes nine Tests, providing ample opportunity to climb the rankings. It includes Two Tests in Bangladesh in March, April 2026, Two Tests in West Indies in July, August, Three Tests in England August, September, and a two-match home Tests against Sri Lanka in November.
The PCB views these fixtures as a chance to boost performance and strengthen its position in the global Test rankings. The board remains committed to preserving Test cricket as a global, inclusive format, not one dominated by a handful of nations.
Pak begin preparations
The Pakistan cricket team commenced their preparations for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies with an intense training session at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium.
Currently touring the United States of America (USA) for the three-match T20I leg, the Green Shirts underwent a rigorous three-hour practice session under the supervision of the coaching staff.
The session included fielding drills, net practice, and skill-specific routines tailored for both bowlers and batters.
The day began with warm-up exercises and physical drills, followed by focused net sessions aimed at improving execution and overall match readiness.
Pakistan will face the West Indies in the opening T20I on July 31 at the same venue in Lauderhill, with Salman Ali Agha set to lead the side during the T20I series.
Following the T20Is, the tour will shift to the Caribbean, where Mohammad Rizwan will take over captaincy duties for the three-match ODI series, beginning August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PCB slams WCL ‘hypocrisy', bans players from future events
Listen to article The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a blanket ban on all future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), accusing the tournament organizers of hypocrisy and biased conduct. The decision came following the Board of Governors' (BoG) 79th meeting, held virtually on Sunday under the chairmanship of PCB head Mohsin Naqvi. In a strongly worded statement, the PCB expressed "considerable disappointment" over the WCL's decision to award points to a team that willfully forfeited a match, while also taking exception to what it called the 'hypocritical and biased' language in WCL press releases, particularly surrounding the cancellation of high-profile Pakistan vs India legends matches. Read More: Holder's last-ball heroics level series as West Indies stun Pakistan 'The contents of the said press releases highlight a duality where the narrative of 'peace through sport' is selectively applied,' the PCB stated. 'Sporting events are being held hostage to political expediency and narrow commercial interests.' It is noteworthy that on July 20, India Champions refused to play against Pakistan in the group stage match of the tournament, which led to the match's cancellation. The WCL management subsequently awarded shared points to both teams, a decision that eventually helped India qualify for the semi-final — only for them to again decline to play, allowing Pakistan to progress to the final. The governing body condemned the tournament's apparent disregard for the principle of sporting neutrality, calling the WCL's justification for the cancellation 'far removed from cricketing merit.' 'The WCL's apology for 'hurting sentiments', whilst being farcical, inadvertently acknowledges that the cancellation was not based on sporting grounds but rather on succumbing to a specific nationalistic narrative,' the statement read. 'This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.' Also Read: Dubai to host Pakistan-India showdown as Asia Cup 2025 venues announced Emphasizing its long-standing stance on keeping sports and politics separate, the PCB said it found it 'deeply concerning' that even an event featuring retired, legendary players was now being influenced by external pressures. 'Our unwavering belief is that cricket, like other international sports, should serve as a platform for goodwill, healthy competition, and mutual respect,' the board reiterated. 'For a tournament involving legendary players to be dictated by sentiments that undermine this fundamental principle is not only regrettable but deeply concerning.' In light of what it described as 'a clear and intolerable pattern of external influence' and 'a disregard for fair play,' the PCB said it could no longer allow its players to participate in the WCL or any future editions of the tournament. 'The PCB can no longer condone participation in an event where the fundamental principles of fair play and unbiased administration are compromised by external pressures,' the statement added. Read: Babar, others reach Florida for WI ODIs Despite its criticism of the WCL, the PCB reaffirmed its commitment to promoting cricket globally and fostering healthy rivalries. 'We remain committed to promoting cricket as a vehicle for unity and sportsmanship,' the statement concluded. 'However, we cannot allow our players to be part of events where the spirit of the game is overshadowed by skewed politics that undermine the gentleman's game.' The virtual BoG meeting was attended by Sumair Ahmed Syed, Salman Naseer, Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, Zafarullah Jadgal, Tanveer Ahmed, Tariq Sarwar, Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Anwaar Ahmad Khan, Adnan Malik, Usman Wahla (special invitee), and Mir Hassan Naqvi.
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PCB imposes ‘blanket ban' on future participation in WCL
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a blanket ban on future participation of Pakistani players in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), citing political bias and discriminatory treatment during the recently concluded tournament. In an official statement, the PCB strongly criticized the organizers for barring Pakistani cricketers and allowing political considerations to influence the event's conduct, particularly highlighting the refusal of the Indian team to play its scheduled matches against Pakistan. Terming the WCL's apology for 'hurting sentiments' as 'farcical,' the PCB said it inadvertently confirmed that the decision to exclude Pakistani players was not based on cricketing merit but rather a concession to a specific nationalistic narrative. 'This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community,' the PCB stated. The board further warned that politically influenced and biased decisions compromise the integrity and neutrality of international sports. It noted that participation in such an environment would be against the dignity of Pakistani players and could pose risks for future events. The issue was discussed in detail during a virtual meeting of the PCB's Board of Governors (BoG), attended by Sumair Ahmed Syed, Salman Naseer, Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, Zafarullah Jadgal, Tanveer Ahmed, Tariq Sarwar, Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Anwaar Ahmad Khan, Adnan Malik, Usman Wahla (special invitee), and Mir Hassan Naqvi (Additional Secretary). During the Championship of Legends, the Indian team played only one match and refused to face Pakistan in both of their group-stage fixtures. Despite this, Pakistani players were sidelined, prompting strong backlash from the PCB. Bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India has remained frozen since 2008. The only brief resumption came in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for an ODI series led by Shahid Afridi, resulting in a series win for Pakistan. The PCB reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the sport and pledged to raise its voice at all relevant forums against politically tainted decisions in international cricket.
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business Recorder
De Villiers' unbeaten blitz outclasses Pakistan in WCL final
AB de Villiers produced a masterclass in power-hitting with a blistering unbeaten century to power South Africa to a commanding nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Champions League (WCL) final at Edgbaston, England. South Africa clinched the WCL title in emphatic fashion on Saturday, comfortably chasing down Pakistan's 196-run target with nine wickets in hand, thanks largely to an explosive unbeaten century by AB de Villiers. The South African captain lit up Edgbaston with an electrifying knock of 120* off just 51 balls, laced with 12 fours and 7 towering sixes. His innings completely overshadowed Pakistan's efforts and left no doubt about the outcome by the halfway mark of the chase. PCB imposes 'blanket ban' on future participation in WCL Chasing 196, South Africa lost Hashim Amla early, who departed after a 14-ball 18, but from then on it was the de Villiers show. The veteran batter took on Pakistan's pace and spin alike, accelerating effortlessly through the innings and reaching his hundred in just 45 balls. Earlier, Pakistan posted 196/5 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Opener Sharjeel Khan led the charge with a 76-run knock, smashing boundaries to put South Africa's bowlers under early pressure. He was well-supported by Umar Amin, who scored a brisk 36 off 19 deliveries. In the death overs, Asif Ali added valuable runs, scoring 28 off 15 balls to push Pakistan to what looked like a competitive total. The Men in Green added 61 runs in the final five overs. For South Africa, Wayne Parnell was the most successful bowler with 2 for 32, while Duanne Olivier and Hardus Viljoen chipped in with a wicket apiece. But de Villiers' brutal onslaught rendered Pakistan's bowling attack ineffective and ensured South Africa sealed the WCL title with more than three overs to spare.
