ISLAMABAD: Legendary captain of the West Indies’ two-time ODI World Cup-winning team, Sir Clive Lloyd has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) proposed two-tier Test cricket system, expressing deep concerns about its implications for less financially stable cricket boards.
This plan, which surfaced during the highly attended Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India, suggests that powerhouse teams like India, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand would compete in a top tier.
While the likes of the West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe would be relegated to a second tier.
The intention behind this restructuring is to create more opportunities for top cricketing nations to face off, thereby increasing viewer engagement and financial returns.
Sir Clive Lloyd has strongly criticized the ICC’s proposed two-tier Test cricket system, warning it could sideline less affluent nations and undermine their hard-earned Test status.
However, Lloyd is doubtful about the benefits of this system, arguing that it could be detrimental to the very countries that have fought hard to achieve Test match status.
“It will be terrible for all those countries who work so hard to get to Test match status and now they’ll be playing among themselves in the lower section,” he lamented in an interview.
His criticism extends beyond the two-tier proposal; he also referenced a controversial suggestion from former ICC chairman Greg Barclay, who proposed that the West Indies should disband and play as individual nations.
Lloyd firmly rejected this notion, emphasizing the rich cricketing heritage of the West Indies. “We have a great history, and now you’re going to tell us because of a monetary situation, we should be disbanded?” he said, stressing the need for unity rather than division.
The legendary cricketer advocates for the ICC to provide financial support to struggling cricket boards rather than dismantling them.
“The way to go is to give them the same amount of money so that they can improve their facilities and get better systems in place. This way, they can enhance their cricket,” he argued, underlining the importance of investing in the grassroots.
He highlighted the inadequacies in the organization of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, questioning its structure and accessibility. “If I am on a Test team, I want to play cricket so I can qualify for that system,” he noted, suggesting that the current setup may not be conducive to fostering competitive spirit among all nations.
In a more neutral perspective, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the two-tier system. He believes that the push for this division stems from the disparity in crowd attendance in various countries.
Notably, Australia, England, and India consistently draw large audiences for Test matches, while nations like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the West Indies struggle to attract fans for the longer format.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif highlighted the disparity in crowd attendance as a key driver behind the two-tier system.
Latif observed, “Fans come to grounds in England because they are traditional fans. South Africa also gets crowds because their fans want to watch longer formats, especially when their team excels.”
He recognized the fluctuating nature of cricket, pointing out that even top-ranked teams like India and Australia could face downturns, while countries with less fan engagement remain undervalued and consequently deprived of revenue.
The overwhelming attendance figures during the recent Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — a staggering 87,242 spectators — starkly contrast with the lower turnout in other regions, reinforcing Latif’s argument about the need for a balanced approach to Test cricket.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal also chimed in, asserting that the primary motivation behind the proposed two-tier system is financial gain.
He lamented the neglect of cricket’s development in emerging nations, cautioning that without regular competition against stronger teams, countries like Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan would struggle to elevate their game. “If they do not play at all against big countries, then how can they improve?” he questioned.
Akmal urged cricketing nations to resist compromising the integrity of the sport for profit. He recalled how previous attempts to implement similar systems faced strong backlash and were ultimately abandoned.
“The ICC must keep Test cricket alive,” he emphasized, praising the World Test Championship for its role in maintaining the format and promoting quality cricket across all nations.
Interestingly, the idea of a two-tier Test system is not new. It was first proposed during an ICC Board meeting in 2016, suggesting a division of teams to foster competition.
Key stakeholders will meet later this month to discuss the future of Test cricket.
