WTC restructuring may be left to ICC Board

The restructuring of the World Test Championship (WTC) may be left to the ICC Board, with no indication the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting on May 21 will take up the matter. The CEC agenda has no mention of men's cricket, only women's cricket and commercial matters like data monetisation and mobile gaming.

The matter will be handled by the ICC Board meeting in Ahmedabad on May 30-31, where decisions on the working group's recommendations will be made. The working group, led by Roger Twose, has recommended including Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe in the WTC cycle, and allowing one-Test series.

Adopting these recommendations appears challenging. Afghanistan, not currently engaged bilaterally by Australia, England, or Pakistan, could theoretically perform well in the WTC table by playing one-off Tests against weaker sides like Bangladesh, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. Expanding the WTC from nine to 12 teams looks unlikely.

The ICC has engaged Oliver Wyman for data monetisation and will discuss mobile gaming. However, challenges exist as several boards and players are linked to the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), which the ICC is reluctant to engage with.

An ICC delegation has visited Sri Lanka to discuss the dissolution of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the interim body appointed by the sports minister. ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia were to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee is headed by Eran Wickramaratne, with members including Roshan Mahanama, Sidath Wettimuny, and Kumar Sangakkara.

Naqvi unlikely for IPL final

Reports suggest PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was invited to the IPL final (May 31) in Ahmedabad, but the invitation is only for the ICC Board meeting. Naqvi, also Pakistan's interior minister, is unlikely to visit India and will attend the Board meeting virtually.