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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
England confirmed as host for next three ICC WTC finals
England has been granted the hosting rights for the next three ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals, dealing a blow to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who had hoped to host the prestigious event in India starting from 2027. The decision, which was confirmed at the ICC's annual conference in Singapore, follows months of deliberation. England's successful track record in hosting previous WTC finals was a key factor in the outcome, with the country set to host the 2027, 2029, and 2031 finals. While the BCCI, led by former secretary Jay Shah, had pushed for the finals to be held in India to capitalise on commercial opportunities, logistical challenges and England's proven ability to deliver packed stadiums ultimately swayed the decision. 'The ECB's successful history of hosting major finals, including packed stadiums and flawless organisation, made them the obvious choice," said Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board. Though India has featured in the first two WTC finals, both of which ended in defeat, the ICC has resisted pressure to relocate the event to India. The WTC final takes place in June, a time when England's climate is more conducive to hosting international cricket than the warmer conditions in India. Despite the commercial appeal of staging the final in India, where the BCCI's financial power looms large, the ICC favoured England's consistent ability to guarantee sell-out crowds for neutral matches. While specific venues for the future finals have yet to be confirmed, Lord's remains a strong contender, having received praise for its atmosphere during the 2025 edition. Despite England's dominance in securing the next three WTC finals, the BCCI may continue its pursuit of hosting rights in future cycles, particularly as global dynamics evolve and pressure for greater geographic diversity in hosting major cricket events increases.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
ICC Forms Committee To Explore Two-Tier Test System; Champions League T20 To Re-Launch From...
An eight-member working group, headed by ICC's new chief executive officer Sanjog Gupta, has been formed by the game's global governing body to explore the possibility of restructuring Test cricket into a two-tier system. The committee was set up during ICC's annual general meeting in Singapore under the all-Indian leadership of the chair, Jay Shah and Gupta, who was appointed as CEO earlier this month. Other members of the panel include England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould and the Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg, according to a report in 'The Guardian'. "Any changes would be introduced for the next cycle of the World Test Championship, due to run from 2027 to 2029, and involve an expansion from the current nine-team format to two divisions of six," the report read. The working party has been asked to submit its recommendations to the board by the end of the year. The presence of Gould and Greenberg indicate that there is strong possibility of the new two-tier system being introduced as CA and ECB have been major advocates of it. Currently, nine teams compete in the World Test Championship, but if the proposed two-tier system is implemented, the structure would shift to two divisions of six teams each, featuring a promotion and relegation mechanism. CA and ECB discussed the two-tier concept last year. CA has been a key proponent, pushing for a model where Australia, England, and India face each other twice every three years, an increase from the current format of two series every four years. Champions League T20 reboot on the cards More than 10 years after its last edition, the Champions League T20 (CLT20), a club-based international T20 competition, could make a comeback next year, with the ICC actively exploring its revival. Discussions around re-launching the competition have been ongoing, with cricket boards from India, Australia, and England leading the conversations. The proposal to revive it has reportedly received backing from key member nations at the AGM, according to 'Sydney Morning Herald'. The last edition of the CLT20 was held in India in 2014 with Chennai Super Kings winning the title after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final at Bengaluru. That edition involved three teams from India, two each from Australia and South Africa, and one side each from Pakistan, West Indies, and New Zealand. As many as six editions of the CLT20 were played between 2009-10 to 2014-15, with four of these being organised in India and two in South Africa. The tournament was won twice each by Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, while Australia's New South Wales and Sydney Sixes won it one time each.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
T20 Champions League set for comeback as Test cricket feels the heat: Report
The latest ICC meeting in Singapore has reportedly laid the foundation for unprecedented changes regarding Test cricket, while Champions League T20 is also set to return, driving cricket deep into T20 grip. read more The first edition of Champions League T20 was played from 2009 to 2014. Image: Chennai IPL The International Cricket Council (ICC) AGM in Singapore that ended on 20 July could prove to be one of the most important in the history of the sport, as the world governing body is reportedly mulling over limiting the number of Test-playing nations and the Champions League T20 (CLT20) may soon make a comeback. The reduction in the number of Test-playing nations and the possible return of a T20 competition that would feature teams from different franchise leagues underlines the direction cricket is taking, where the shortest format of the game is soon going to be the sole leader and the international calendar may also witness massive changes to adjust for a large number of franchise tournaments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Champions League T20 set for comeback As per a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, several influential boards called for the Champions League T20 to be revived. The CLT20, which is based on the concept of the UEFA Champions League, was played from 2009 to 2014 before being closed down due to a lack of financial returns. However, the massive rise in franchise leagues across the world and the immense popularity of the T20 format have made the richest cricket boards feel that now is the right time to relaunch the league. ICC, however, will have a tough task in laying out clear rules for the tournament as the most popular players often take part in multiple leagues and play for different teams across the year. It will be interesting to see how the ICC decides which team a player will represent in the CLT20. The major decision regarding the financing of the CLT20 is still pending, but there are enough signs that the boards want the tournament to make a return. Test cricket faces the heat Meanwhile, Test cricket's future could take a hit with the return of CLT20. The SMH report added that the ICC is thinking about cutting down the number of Test-playing nations from 2027. A new working group has been given the task of making a possible roadmap by the end of 2025. The ICC working group could include new ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta and will be headed by president Jay Shah, has been tasked with recommending a roadmap by the end of the year.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
ICC forms working committee to explore two-tier Test system; Champions League T20 to re-launch next year
An eight-member working group, headed by ICC's new chief executive officer Sanjog Gupta, has been formed by the game's global governing body to explore the possibility of restructuring Test cricket into a two-tier system. The committee was set up during ICC's annual general meeting in Singapore under the all-Indian leadership of the chair, Jay Shah and Gupta, who was appointed as CEO earlier this month. Other members of the panel include England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould and the Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg, according to a report in 'The Guardian'. "Any changes would be introduced for the next cycle of the World Test Championship, due to run from 2027 to 2029, and involve an expansion from the current nine-team format to two divisions of six," the report read. The working party has been asked to submit its recommendations to the board by the end of the year. The presence of Gould and Greenberg indicate that there is strong possibility of the new two-tier system being introduced as CA and ECB have been major advocates of it. Currently, nine teams compete in the World Test Championship, but if the proposed two-tier system is implemented, the structure would shift to two divisions of six teams each, featuring a promotion and relegation mechanism. CA and ECB discussed the two-tier concept last year. CA has been a key proponent, pushing for a model where Australia, England, and India face each other twice every three years, an increase from the current format of two series every four years. Champions League T20 reboot on the cards More than 10 years after its last edition, the Champions League T20 (CLT20), a club-based international T20 competition, could make a comeback next year, with the ICC actively exploring its revival. Discussions around re-launching the competition have been ongoing, with cricket boards from India, Australia, and England leading the conversations. The proposal to revive it has reportedly received backing from key member nations at the AGM, according to 'Sydney Morning Herald'. The last edition of the CLT20 was held in India in 2014 with Chennai Super Kings winning the title after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final at Bengaluru. That edition involved three teams from India, two each from Australia and South Africa, and one side each from Pakistan, West Indies, and New Zealand. As many as six editions of the CLT20 were played between 2009-10 to 2014-15, with four of these being organised in India and two in South Africa. The tournament was won twice each by Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, while Australia's New South Wales and Sydney Sixes won it one time each.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Two-division Test cricket on agenda after ICC decides to consider WTC expansion
The International Cricket Council has set up a working group to explore moving to a system of two-division Test cricket for the first time in what would be one of the most radical changes in the 133-year history of the global game. In the first annual general meeting under the new all-Indian leadership of the chair, Jay Shah, and the chief executive, Sanjog Gupta, held in Singapore at the weekend, the ICC appointed an eight-strong working party with a remit to report recommendations to the board by the end of the year. Any changes would be introduced for the next cycle of the World Test Championship, due to run from 2027 to 2029, and involve an expansion from the current nine-team format to two divisions of six. Gupta, who joined the ICC this month from Indian broadcaster JioStar, will chair the working party which also features the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, Richard Gould, and the Cricket Australia chief executive, Todd Greenberg. The two-division concept first emerged from meetings between CA and the ECB during the women's Ashes last January. CA, in particular, is major advocate and has pushed a model that would involve Australia, England and India playing against each other twice every three years rather than the current set-up of two series in four years. Although this would appeal to broadcasters and be hugely lucrative, the ECB is understood to have reservations about scheduling more Test series between the so-called big three, as it would further entrench their huge financial advantage over other international sides. The presence of Gupta, Gould and Greenberg on the working group suggests there is a strong possibility the two-division model will be adopted, although the devil will be in the detail of their findings. With such a significant change requiring the support of a two-thirds majority of the ICC's 12 full members, the biggest challenge will be to agree on a system of promotion and relegation between the two divisions to prevent the smaller nations being cut adrift. An increased package of financial support for countries starting in division two may also be required. Under the current ICC Test rankings, the world Test champions, South Africa, plus New Zealand and Sri Lanka would join the big three in division one, with Ireland, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh in line to be admitted to the World Test Championship for the first time to join Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe in division two. This development came as the ICC announced in Singapore that England will stage the next three World Test Championship finals. All of the first three showpieces have been held in England, most recently last month with Lord's the venue as South Africa were crowned champions for the first time by defeating the holders Australia. The ICC also discussed creating a new Twenty20 Champions League or World Club Championship that would feature franchises from the Indian Premier League, the Hundred and the Big Bash, but no formal proposal was tabled. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion A previous T20 Champions League run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, CA and Cricket South Africa was launched in 2008 and lasted until 2014, but collapsed after the main broadcaster ESPN Star failed to pay rights fees. The ICC has expressed interest in running its own version, but it would be a complex undertaking, not least as many of the IPL owners have bought franchises in other countries including South Africa's SA20, Major League Cricket in the and ILT20 in the United Arab Emirates. The owners of Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad are also in the process of buying into four Hundred franchises. Some of the world's top T20 players represent as many as four or five franchises each year, so determining whom they would represent would not be straightforward, with 2027 seen as the most likely start date for a new global tournament as that coincides with the end of the ICC's $3bn Indian TV deal with Disney Star.
