ICC World Test Championship final depends on the rescheduling of backlogged series

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with the ICC Future Tour Programme (FTP) with numerous series being either postponed or cancelled. The tournaments affected includes the ICC World Test Championship, the finals of which was scheduled to be played in 2021. GM of ICC’s cricket operations, Geoff Allardice has now commented on the issue, saying that whether the final can be held next year as originally scheduled will depend on the number of bilateral series which can be rescheduled post resumption.

"We are currently in discussion with members on what their plans are around rescheduling their series,” Allardice said while fielding queries from various news agencies. "Obviously their teams have re-scheduled them (their engagements) as quickly as possible. Depending on how many of them (postponed series) could be re-scheduled within the available time will give us the most appropriate timing for the final. But at this stage, the final is scheduled for June.” The countries in question who have had their schedules disrupted include Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England, all of whom have backlogs in their ICC World Test Championship schedule.

"We are working with the members on that...Countries are now working out on how to resume and when it's best to resume and they are all in their process of looking at calendars,” Allardice added.

Allardice also made it clear that the onus lies on the cricketing boards of these countries to schedule their pending commitments, and the ICC can play no role in enforcing the redrawn schedules for backlogged games. "I don't see us taking a greater role in terms of being proactive. ICC plays a role in coordinating competitions, but it has no role in scheduling as it is on members,” Allardice emphasised.

Allardice also spoke on the need to find a balance between the number of T20I and ODI games played on a bilateral tour. He also acknowledged the active role ICC has taken up since 2018 in addressing the issue. "The rules around the league were established, back in 2017- 18, a decision was taken at that time that T20Is and ODIs will be three-match series. Earlier, it used to be five ODIs and a T20 International. Probably it changes the balance but when the league was designed, the countries agreed that there would be three ODIs and three T20 Internationals,” he mentioned.

Speaking on the innovative 3TC format trialled recently in South Africa, Allardice clarified that the ICC is focused on promoting only the three existing formats, but left the freedom up to the respective member boards to try out newer rules and regulations. Look, the ICC's position is at the moment we have three international formats but members are encouraged to try out new formats,” he said. "We are focusing on these three formats (Tests, ODIs, T20Is). We are aware of what's happening in member countries but it has not come on the ICC radar as yet,” Allardice clarified.

Allardice also gave his two cents on the future of women’s game post the pandemic-induced hiatus, saying, "Women's cricket is as much affected as men's cricket. The planning is going ahead for the event and the situation is being monitored,” he added.

[PTI inputs]