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Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) and administrators from leading cricket nations for neglecting the welfare of Test cricket.

This criticism follows South Africa's decision to prioritize their Twenty20 competition over a scheduled tour of New Zealand. Waugh expressed his dismay, stating, "Obviously they don't care."

South Africa announced a 14-man squad for a two-Test series against New Zealand, featuring seven uncapped players and a new captain, Neil Brand, who is yet to play international cricket.

Waugh is concerned that flagship events like the Boxing Day Test may face significant challenges in the years ahead.

“It’s going to happen if the South African Cricket Board are any indication of the future, keeping their best players at home,” he said. “If I was New Zealand I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they’re even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?

“It’s pretty obvious what the problem is. The West Indies aren’t sending their full-strength side [to Austalia this summer]. They haven’t picked a full-strength Test team for a couple of years now.

“Someone like Nicholas Pooran is really a Test batsman who doesn’t play Test cricket. Jason Holder, probably their best player, is not playing now. Even Pakistan didn’t send a full side [to Australia].

“If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly then Test cricket doesn’t become Test cricket because you’re not testing yourself against the best players.

“I understand why players don’t come. They’re not getting paid properly. I don’t understand why ICC or the top countries who are making a lot of money don’t just have a regulation set fee for Test matches which is a premium, so people are incentivised to play Test Cricket.

“Otherwise they just play T10 or T20. The public are the ones who are going to suffers because it’s not the full side playing, so it’s not Test cricket.

The wealthy Board of Control for Cricket in India demands and receives an ever greater share of ICC revenue when most other countries run Test cricket at a loss.