ICC to discuss Test World championship

The formal implementation of a ten-year international tour programme and consideration of a Test World Championship will be two of the major topics for discussion at the February 10-11 ICC Executive Board meeting in Melbourne, Australia.

The tours programme is structured to allow all Test-playing countries to play each other home and away over a five-year period. However, long established and traditional fixtures such as the Ashes series will continue on a four-year cycle.

This would be the first time a co-ordinated calendar of international cricket has been adopted, giving the opportunity for long-term planning and preparation. It will also provide newer Test-playing nations such as Zimbabwe and Bangladesh with regular fixtures against all other teams.

The development of the future tours programme has been largely undertaken by Chris Doig, chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, on behalf of the ICC.

This schedule would provide the framework for the introduction of an official Test cricket World Championship. The meeting will discuss the potential structure and timing of this and consider the benefits of adding context and enhanced spectator interest to the game at Test level.

The Melbourne meeting will receive a progress update from Sir Paul Condon, head of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, on the status of its investigations into cricket corruption. This will confirm its investigation of allegations contained in the Indian CBI report and ongoing support for current inquiries in South Africa, the UK and Pakistan. No details relating to individuals or players will be announced or discussed.

Sir Paul is due to submit a detailed report and recommendations to Lord Griffiths, chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, in April.

Following the conclusion of the Executive Board there will be a meeting of current Test captains in Melbourne on Monday, February 12, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar. This will cover discussion of topical issues such as playing conditions and the use of technology in the decision-making process. Recommendations will go forward to the ICC Cricket Committee-Playing meeting scheduled for London during May, which will review playing conditions for international cricket for the next three years.

Captains confirmed to attend include Stephen Waugh, Stephen Fleming, Jimmy Adams, Heath Streak, Naimur Rahman, Sanath Jayasuriya, Moin Khan and Shaun Pollock. Nasser Hussain and Saurav Ganguly are unable to attend as they will be preparing for forthcoming series against Sri Lanka and Australia respectively.

Other major agenda items at the two-day Executive Board meeting will include:
-- confirmation of details relating to future ICC tournaments, including the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, venues for the 2002 Under 19 World Cup and 2002 ICC Knock Out and an update on the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

-- approval of the proposed 2001/2002 ICC budget of $15.7 million. This figure reflects planned growth in head office staffing over the next 12 months to cope with the increased workload from a busier calendar of international cricket, greater commercial involvement in major tournaments, funding of both the Development Program and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.

-- the ICC Development Program, which will include confirmation of a budget to cover the next two years of $13 million and the intention to recruit a full time High Performance Manager to assist the three qualifying Associate Members prepare for the 2003 World Cup.

-- two Affiliate countries -- the Cayman Islands and Tanzania -- have applied for Associate status and there are a record 10 applications for Affiliate membership from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Botswana, Bhutan, Croatia, Indonesia, South Korea, Lesotho, Maldives and St Helena. Each of these will be reviewed at June's ICC AGM in London.

-- an update on progress in recruiting a new ICC Chief Executive to succeed David Richards.

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