Photo Credit: Facebook Profile Photo of Dr. Kishore Shallow
Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow addressed reports of a potential proposal to introduce a two-tier Test cricket system, emphasizing that any decision made at the International Cricket Council (ICC) level must prioritize the interests of West Indies cricket and the sport globally. Shallow suggested that the reports could be rumors, as no formal discussions on the matter have occurred during his tenure with the ICC.
The reports indicate that ICC Chairman Jay Shah is expected to meet with representatives from Australia, India, and England to explore dividing the 12 full members into two tiers based on rankings, potentially revamping the nine-team World Test Championship. If implemented, this could see the West Indies, who will mark their 100th anniversary as a Test-playing nation in 2028, relegated to a lower tier.
Shallow, who has been a CWI director since 2017 and an ICC member for two years, clarified on the Mason and Guest show that no formal proposal has been presented. “This could easily be a rumour. From my position, it has not been discussed. All I have seen is what you have seen in the media,” he stated. He also noted that discussions about Test cricket’s decline date back to 2004, underscoring longstanding concerns about the format’s future.
Shallow refrained from taking a definitive stance, reiterating that the issue remains unofficial. However, he stressed the importance of thoroughly assessing any proposal’s practicality, funding, and overall impact. “There hasn’t been a proposal, and I quote proposal loosely, on the table since I have been a director of the ICC for two years now, so I can state that it has not been on the agenda of the ICC,” he confirmed.
“Whatever decision, I suppose at the ICC level, it must be in alignment with what is best for West Indies cricket, and cricket by extension across the globe. That is the position I hold,” Shallow added.
CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe also reserved judgment, citing a lack of concrete details about the proposal. He emphasized the importance of understanding its financial framework and whether it includes a promotion and relegation system before forming an opinion.
“It is difficult to have a position on it without knowing the actual framework and the dynamics; the financial framework that will go along with it as well as if there will be a relegation and promotion system,” Bascombe explained.
Bascombe acknowledged differing opinions from cricket legends like Sir Clive Lloyd and Michael Holding but maintained that a detailed framework is necessary before forming a stance. “There are still a lot of things that are not clear to me, and until I have that information, I will want to reserve my comments. I am keen to see what the details are before I can really form an opinion on it,” he concluded.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
