Kolkata, Apr 26: The ICC today decided to convert the 2021 Champions Trophy scheduled in India into a World T20 event, finally scrapping the eight-team ODI tournament, the context and relevance of which has been questioned repeatedly.
At the end of its five-day board meeting, ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said the global body has “unanimously agreed” that the 2021 meet in India would now be a 16-team event in the shortest format.
Richardsons announcement meant that BCCI representative Amitabh Chaudhary also voted in favour of the change after the initial opposition to the move.
This means that only for the second time ever, two ICC World T20 events will take place in two years the 2020 edition in Australia and the 2021 edition in India. The first time it happened was 2009 (England) and 2010 (West Indies).
“The 2021 Champions Trophy in India will now change to World T20. It fits into our strategy of growing the game,” Richardson said today at a media conference at the end of the meeting.
There will be a 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cup, effectively scrapping the very concept of Champions Trophy, a tournament which was described as irrelevant by several critics given the presence of a full-fledged quadrennial World Cup.
“Well the BCCI representative attended the board meeting and the vote was passed unanimously. So I dont think thats an issue,” said Richardson.
However Richardsons rationale behind the changes were contradictory in nature.
When asked that ICC often claims about safeguarding longer formats but then is increasing cash-rich T20, he reasoned; “I dont agree with that its contradictory. In the end we are going to end up with maximum of 12 Test teams.”
“The Champions Trophy in a way was too similar to the World Cup, always quite difficult to differentiate. Why you are having a World Cup and then a Champions Trophy? It was difficult.
“And dont forget a 13-team ODI league is a huge step in making sure the 50 over format has much more context going forward,” the former Proteas keeper said.
When asked if the 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy looked similar, then how different would be the World T20 in 2020 and 2021, Richardson called the situation a “little bit unfortunate”.
“Unfortunately thats just because of the schedule how it works. There would not have been an option I suppose of moving the T20 into 2022.
“But going forward in the future, every two years World T20, every four years the World Cup and dont forget the ODI League building up to each World Cup,” he concluded.
‘India-Pakistan cricket issue is quite complicated’
NEW DELHI: The ongoing tussle between Indian cricket board (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with regards to bilateral series has drawn the reaction from ICC CEO Dave Richardson, who said the issue is quite complicated.
Addressing the press conference after the conclusion of the five-day ICC meeting in Kolkata, Richardson said: “There is a common desire that it will be great if India and Pakistan can play each other, specifically in bilateral series. The issue is quite complicated I am afraid. It is going to take a lot than just two boards agreeing.”
Pakistani cricket authorities claim that their Indian counterparts have violated a 2014 memorandum of understanding under which the two were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.
The PCB is seeking $70 million in compensation as a dispute resolution panel of the ICC will hear the claim in October.
“It’s a statement of intent and not a contract. I don’t blame them for sticking to the letter. But it is not a contract,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said.
“They have their own pressure at home which I understand,” he said indicating to a letter dated April 9, 2014 written by the erstwhile secretary Sanjay Patel to PCB chairman Najam Sethi.
According to the letter, BCCI and PCB agree that the senior men’s cricket teams of India and Pakistan will play each other but the letter will have “no effect” if the resolutions are not passed at the ICC Annual Conference in June 2014.
ICC hopeful of cricket’s inclusion at 2028 Olympics
Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) Cricket may finally return to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028 after the ICC has expressed its strong desire to pitch for the sport’s inclusion in the quadrennial Summer Games on the final day of its quarterly meetings here today.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said is all goes well cricket will be a part of the Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket has not been played at the Summer Games since it featured only once in Paris 1900.
In a bold decision to globalise cricket, the ICC on the final day of its five-day long meetings decided to give international status to all T20 matches played by its 104 members.
“I think this decision can only help us in our move or application to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the right to participate in the Olympics going forward,” Richardson told reporters here.
The deadline for submitting bids to the IOC for the inclusion of new sports at the 2024 Games is over and Richardson said they are hopeful of cricket’s inclusion at Los Angeles 2028.
“It’s going to take a bit of time. The 2024 Olympics will be in Paris and 2028 in Los Angeles. We have already missed the deadline to apply to IOC through the front door to get the right to participate (in 2024 Olympics),” he said.
“We can’t go to Paris. But we have continued our talks with IOC and with LA in due course, hopefully by 2028 we will have cricket in the Olympics,” an optimistic Richardson said.
