ICC Abandons Two-Tier Test Plan, Proposes 12-Team WTC Model

Plans for a two-tier World Test Championship (WTC) were dropped by the ICC after failing to gain support from nations.

The next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will likely include all 12 Full Member nations in a single division. This follows the failure of a proposal to split teams into two tiers, which did not gain enough support. A revival of the short-lived ODI Super League is also being considered.

A working group led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose presented these recommendations to the ICC. The proposals were discussed during quarterly meetings in Dubai. The need for a decision was urgent, as countries are already planning bilateral series for the next WTC cycle from 2027-29.

The two-tier model was discussed but ultimately rejected. A major obstacle was the lack of a viable funding model. There were also concerns from nations likely to be in division two, such as West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. They opposed the idea due to the potential loss of matches against top teams.

Promotion and relegation was another contentious issue. Top teams were worried about the financial impact of being relegated. “We wouldn’t want, as England, we may go through a fallow period, and that means, what, we fall into Division Two and we don’t play Australia and India?” ECB chief Richard Thompson told the BBC in August. “That couldn’t happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here.”

ALSO READ | Shreyas Iyer Unlikely to Be Fit for South Africa ODIs | Reports

New Structure Proposed By ICC

Instead, the working group has proposed a 12-team WTC. This would include Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland. All teams would be expected to play a minimum number of Tests. However, no extra funding for hosting Tests is planned.

“It guarantees that everyone is playing Test cricket,” a board director told ESPNcricinfo. “Those that really want to play the format now have opportunities and there is an incentive for other teams to play them.”

For white-ball cricket, the ODI Super League may be revived. The league was scrapped after the 2023 World Cup. The proposal did not specify how many teams would be in a new league, which could start from 2028.

“The Super League could help revitalise the 50-over format,” one administrator said. “Maybe the problem is not that the format is necessarily dead, it’s finding the proper structure.”

ALSO READ | “Rizwan Made Way for Me”: Shaheen Afridi Opens Up on Pakistan Captaincy Decision

There are no plans to expand the 50-over World Cup beyond 14 teams. The T20 World Cup is also expected to remain at 20 teams for now.

Associate members have proposed a new global qualifier for the T20 World Cup. This would determine the final spots and could include both Associate and Full Member nations. Despite some support, the T10 format will not be officially recognized by the ICC. The board will debate these issues in early next year.