ICC chairman Barclay feels ICC Test Championship not achieved what it intended to
Collected
||CF Correspondent||
Coach Salahuddin points to deeper structural issues after Day 1 collapse
20 Apr 25
International Cricket Council newly-elected chairman Greg Barclay said on Monday that the inaugural World Test Championship so far has not achieved what it intended to.
Barclay raised doubts over the future of the championship adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted its shortcomings" as a competition.
"In short, I don't think so (that the World Test Championship has been a boost to Test cricket)," Barclay said during a virtual media conference for wire services.
"The COVID has probably highlighted its shortcomings of the championship. ...the issues that we have already got, I wonder whether some of it was because of an attempt to develop a Test Championship, clearly designed to drive interest back into Test cricket, provide a bit of context and relevance around the Test matches.
"From an idealist's point of view, probably it had a lot of merit but practically, I do disagree, I am not sure whether it has achieved what it intended to do," he said adding that the organizers need to go to the drawing board and look at things differently as ICC recently redesigned the points allocation system.
"My personal view is let's get through with the little bit that we can in this COVID-19, with reallocation of points and all that," Barclay said. "...but once we have done that, let''s go back to the drawing board as I am not quite sure whether it (WTC) entirely fits the purpose and has achieved what it intended to after being conceptualised four to five years back,’’ he said.
"I think we need to look at it in the context of calendar and not put cricketers in a situation where it's a lot worse and not going to help us,’’ he said.
"I think there would be some countries. It is difficult for some of the full members as they simply can''t afford to play Test cricket," he said. "Test cricket has got its legacy and I am a purist but I do accept that as much as I want to keep it as it is, less and less countries are able to afford that arrangement and are able to play it. Very few countries can make it work from a financial point of view,’’ he said.
