ICC plans to bring promotion relegation in Test matches

KARACHI: World cricket’s custodians are to consider a revolutionary proposal to bring relegation and promotion to Test matches as a partial stop to the imminent death of the World Test Championship (WTC).

According to reports available here on Wednesday, the ICC executive board is expected to consider the proposal at the next round of meetings later this month the same gathering expected to end any hopes for the WTC due to the reluctance of broadcasters and the lack of certainty around the format of an event that was postponed from its original 2013 launch date and re-launched for 2017 last October.

The board will instead entertain the promotion relegation plan which will open up the possibility of nations like Ireland and Afghanistan earning their way into Test matches while at the same time placing the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the precipice.

It will be introduced on the no disadvantage condition that none of the current ICC Full Member nations would lose that status and its financial advantages.

Instead the Associate nations will have the chance to press for spots at the Test match table on the basis of performance against the lower ranked Full Members.

This would provide a strong incentive for nations currently playing Test matches to improve themselves while also offering opportunities for Associates to compete at the highest level of the game.

Precise details of how promotion and relegation from Test cricket would work in practice are yet to be revealed but the concept of play offs for Test status every four years is believed to be one of the options under consideration.

The idea of dividing Test cricket up into two tiers has been debated for some time with various noted voices on the game expressing opinions on its merits.

In addition to promotion and relegation the ICC is expected to consider increasing the financial rewards on offer to teams earning the No. 1 spot on the Test rankings for which the Test Championship Mace is currently awarded on an annual basis.

It is also likely that regulations requiring all teams to play each other regularly will be relaxed a state of affairs that has already begun to exist. (APP)