England set for more power but global cricket overhaul diluted
ENGLISH cricket remains on course for a larger slice of cash and greater influence at international level – but more extreme changes to the game’s future were watered down after a day of intensive bargaining yesterday.
The International Cricket Council claimed “unanimous support” for plans to form a new executive committee, create a fund to support Test cricket and scrap the World Test Championship, due to be held in England in 2017. But those proposals only survived after six hours of haggling in Dubai, and still exist only in principle, with another summit scheduled for next month.
The executive committee, mooted to include England, India, Australia and one other member on annual rotation, has been expanded to five to include another representative beyond the big three.
World No1s South Africa, having protested at being sidelined, have been added to the nations on the Test cricket fund list, distributed among all full ICC members bar India, England and Australia.
The World Test Championship has been permanently shelved and the Champions Trophy revived instead.