London (Web Desk): The International Cricket Council has moved closer to a radical shake-up to pave the way for Afghanistan and Ireland to become Test nations and restrict the power of the ‘Big Three’ of India, England and Australia.
Following a meeting at its Dubai headquarters, cricket’s global governing body said Saturday it had reached “agreement in principle to constitutional and financial change, further progress on future international cricket structures and agreement around the consistent use of DRS (the Decision Review System).” Among key proposals are that the top nine Test-playing countries will compete among themselves in a rolling two-year league and against the three lower-ranked teams.
Those three would comprise Zimbabwe, with Ireland and Afghanistan also in line to become full or Test members provided, the ICC said, they met “membership criteria”. Meanwhile a 13-team one-day international league would be run over a three-year period leading into qualification for the 2023 World Cup.