BCCI votes against World Test Championship

In 2009, World Test Championship was proposed when ICC met the Marylebone Cricket Club to discuss the matter. New Zealander Martin Crowe was the mastermind behind this idea. World Test Championship was finalized in 2013. It was scheduled in June of 2017 but due to financial problems it was cancelled and the Champions Trophy was reinstated.

However, the ICC recently called a two-day meeting to discuss the nine-plus-three test format structure. The BCCI also rubbished International Cricket Council’s suggestions in changing the plans to the Test calendar. BCCI refused to do that. The nine-plus-three structure qualification is to be kick started from 2019.

BCCI was very quiet during the voting for changes in the governance and finance model of the ICC was done. The votes went in favor of the ICC’s president Shashank Manohar. He won the verdict with a 7-2 vote. Usually, BCCI would be represented by someone who has the knowledge of the matters taking place in ICC but it was represented by Vikram Limaye, who was appointed by the Supreme Court. Limaye had a no experience of such matters and hence BCCI could not act upon the same.

Coming back to the two-tier Test format, one of the officials who has knowledge of the matter told the Times of India about the same. The official said that ICC is just testing the mood of the members as they have not even formally signed Afghanistan or Ireland’s full membership status. The official also said that ICC thinks that BCCI is weak and it may not go against it.

“How can a nine-plus-three structure be proposed in the first place when the ICC Board is yet to ratify Ireland and Afghanistan’s full membership status? They (certain ICC board members) are just trying to test the waters and gauge the mood of members. In the process, they’re still thinking that a “weak” BCCI may not resist,” said the Official while talking to TOI. BCCI is firmly against the two-tier format and has voted it down previously.