The MCC World Cricket Committee (WCC) has put forward a set of recommendations aimed at bolstering the growth and sustainability of Test cricket and women’s cricket. In addition, the committee has called for a significant reduction in bilateral ODI matches.
During a two-day meeting at Lord’s coinciding with the England-Australia Test, the WCC raised concerns regarding the role of men’s ODI cricket outside of the World Cups. To enhance the quality of ODI cricket, the committee proposed a substantial reduction in bilateral matches following the upcoming World Cup in India. The aim is to create more space in the cricketing calendar while maintaining focus on ODIs leading up to each World Cup.
The MCC committee stressed the need to establish a Test Fund to address the financial challenges faced by countries other than India, Australia, and England when hosting men’s Test matches. To gain a better understanding of the costs associated with hosting Test matches across ICC member nations, the committee urged the ICC to conduct a financial audit. This audit would allow the ICC to identify nations requiring support to sustain their Test match programs, potentially through the allocation of funds from a dedicated Test Fund.
MCC urged every nation to invest in Women’s Cricket for bolstering its Growth
The committee also emphasized the growth of women’s cricket globally and called for each nation to invest in women’s cricket and field a women’s team. To support this objective, the MCC proposed the creation of an ICC Strategic Fund. This fund would be allocated to full member and associate nations based on their commitment to women’s cricket development, along with other key initiatives.
Addressing the current revenue-sharing model within cricket, the MCC highlighted the disparity between boards and urged for a more inclusive approach that benefits the international game as a whole. The recent ICC board meeting in Durban focused on the revenue-sharing formula and underlined the importance of addressing this issue.
Upon concluding the meeting, outgoing WCC chair Mike Gatting stressed the need for the ICC to adopt a democratic and inclusive approach to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the recent media rights sale. Gatting emphasized the importance of long-term, viable strategies that financially and structurally secure cricket operations for member nations, promoting overall growth and participation in the sport.
The MCC’s proposals serve as a roadmap to ensure the sustainability and development of Test cricket, women’s cricket, and the overall welfare of the game. It is crucial for the ICC to consider these recommendations and work collaboratively with member nations to drive cricket forward in a fair and inclusive manner.
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