ISLAMABAD
\nDescribing the ICC as an \u201cevent management company\u201d, former Australia captain Ian Chappell has observed that the financially stronger boards are getting their way in producing self-serving schedule while harming the interest of Test cricket.
\nChappell also felt that a viable two-tier system for Test cricket should have been in place by now but added that other pressing matters need urgent attention to keep the game\u2019s traditional format relevant.
\n\u201cOn the subject of a two-tier Test system, former West Indies pace-bowling champion Michael Holding noted: \u2018For all its faults, at least FIFA actually runs soccer. The ICC must run cricket\u2019,\u201d Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
\n\u201cTherein lies a perplexing problem. The ICC doesn\u2019t run cricket, and unless there\u2019s a major change of heart, the financially desirable nations will continue to have a huge say in producing a self-serving schedule.\u201d Chappell though agreed that the game\u2019s financial engine India\u2019s influence is proportional to their contribution.
\n\u201cThen there\u2019s the major issue of the financial split. The big three \u2014 India, Australia and England \u2014 despite was the wealthiest cricket nations claim a large slice of the money divided among cricket bodies, and yet they agitate for an even larger share.
\n\u201cIndia\u2019s powerful presence in the ICC is in direct proportion to their contribution of around 70% of cricket\u2019s income. It\u2019s a complex issue to which cricket hasn\u2019t found a workable solution.\u201d \u201cProducing a player who performs well in Test cricket requires having a strong four-day competition. It\u2019s extremely expensive to run a four-day competition. \u201cIt\u2019s one reason why T20 cricket flourishes. Running a successful T20 competition improves the financial capacity of a cricket body.
\n\u201cThis, along with running a successful T20 competition was vastly more acceptable than losing money on a first-class schedule, dominates the thinking of most cricket administrators.
\n\u201cCricket was run by a competent ICC is a pipe dream. Hence the growing T20 calendar and the current scheduling schemozzle that plagues the game.\u201d Chappell cited the exampled of warm reception following Sam Konstas\u2019 daring Test debut against India at the MCG.
\n\u201cCricket administration is difficult. However, in addition to producing a viable two-tier system, there are other pressing matters that need urgent attention if Test cricket is to improve its relevance in the wider sporting world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Describing the ICC as an \u201cevent management company\u201d, former Australia captain Ian Chappell has observed that the financially stronger boards are getting their way in producing self-serving schedule while harming the interest of Test cricket. Chappell also felt that a viable two-tier system for Test cricket should have been in place by now but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":457734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-457714","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n