Boards decides to form two-year Test cycle for the World Test Championship

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) meeting with the cricket boards concluded in Dubai on Tuesday (22nd August) and it was unanimously agreed to form a two-year cycle, instead of a 4-year cycle which was planned earlier, to identify the world Test champions. ICC has been planning such a championship to make the longest format of the game lucrative for the spectators and it seems like things are falling in place now.

Most of the cricket boards have agreed to the proposal and the ICC could soon declare World Test Championship to go with 50-over World Cup and World T20 already in existence in other formats. According to the sources, it has also been revealed that it will be a nine team league which would not include the teams like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland.

The top 9 Test playing nations will contest in a 2-year cycle with top sides reaching the final. The sentiment among officials is to stage the first ever World Test Championship final at Lord’s irrespective of the sides emerging in the top two.

Test Championship to be launched after 2019 World Cup

Assuming that the things go according to the plan, the ICC is hoping to launch the World Test Championship after the final of 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. Initial information indicates that officials have decided the two-year cycle will be based on all-play-all at least once in the period and the return leg of bilateral series will be part of the next cycle.

However, it is still not clear how the points will be calculated but soon the solution for that will be arrived upon given that there is still enough time for 2019. Also, all the members had a discussion regarding the India-Pakistan matches and how it would impact the championship. But in the end, they left the matter to time and hoped the cricketing ties between the two nations resume at the earliest.