The International Cricket Council (ICC) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore, starting July 17. The four-day meeting will see important decisions being discussed about the future of world cricket. ICC Chairman Jay Shah and CEO Sanjog Gupta are leading the talks.
Some of the biggest points on the table include possible changes to Test cricket, expansion of the T20 World Cup, and the addition of new member countries. This is the first ICC AGM under Shah and Gupta.
Boards like Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are pushing for changes in how Test cricket is played. At the same time, the T20 World Cup format might soon see more teams added, especially after Italy’s qualification for the upcoming edition of the tournament.
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Test Cricket Restructure, T20 World Cup Expansion in Focus at ICC AGM
One big topic is the idea of a two-tier system in Test cricket. This would mean having two groups of teams based on performance with a promotion and relegation system.
The current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle from 2025 to 2027 won’t be changed but the new system could be introduced after that. Discussions will also focus on how funds would be shared among the teams if the format changes.
For T20 cricket, there is a possibility of expanding the World Cup to 24 teams in the future. Right now, the tournament includes 20 teams after an increase from the previous editions.
The next edition will keep the 20-team format but with countries like Italy qualifying for 2026 and the Olympics on the horizon, the ICC is open to further growth.
What Else is on the Table at ICC AGM?
New member nations are also part of the agenda. Zambia, which was suspended in 2019 for not following proper governance rules, is expected to return as an Associate member. East Timor is likely to be approved as a new ICC member for the first time.
The ICC will also look into the problems faced during the 2024 T20 World Cup. Reports of poor planning and overspending during the event in the USA and West Indies led to the resignation of CEO Geoff Allardice earlier this year. A review of that situation is expected during this AGM.
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