Cricinfo: ICC's Plan to Introduce Dedicated Fund for Test Cricket

ICC's Initiative for Test Cricket

The ICC could introduce a dedicated fund from 2025 in an attempt to reinforce Test cricket and allow boards outside the Big Three to compete with more lucrative franchise leagues to ensure they can call upon a bigger pool of their talent. The initiative, driven primarily by Cricket Australia chair Mark Baird and with the support of the BCCI and ECB, is aimed at creating a central fund to provide a minimum standard match fee for players across the board, reported to be around US $10,000 (approx £7,600).

Enhancing Player Involvement

The hope is it will be agreed upon before Christmas in time to be fully operational next year. This fund would make Test cricket more attractive to players who essentially opt out of the format for a bigger payday in short-format competitions across the world. It would also reduce the costs incurred by less-moneyed boards.

Financial Challenges and Support

The nine Test-playing nations beyond India, Australia and England (who will not be privy to the fund) often operate at a loss when it comes to red-ball cricket, and not just as hosts. Earlier this summer, outgoing Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave revealed that the tour of Australia at the start of the year had cost the board US $2 million. The fund, which is expected to be in the region of US $15 million (approx £11 million), is understood to have the backing of BCCI secretary Jay Shah and ECB chair Richard Thompson.

Future Prospects

It is currently at a formative stage and has not been discussed formally by the ICC at the board level or by their executive committee. Baird is confident about the fund's potential.