The Int'l Cricket Council Champions Trophy "could be scrapped to make way for an expanded World T20," ICC CEO David Richardson said, according to SKY SPORTS. The "future of the tournament is at risk" as the ICC prepares to hold its annual conference in London "on the back of a successful eighth edition," won by Pakistan after a final against India with an estimated viewing audience "in the hundreds of millions." India is due to host the next Champions Trophy in '21, but "there is no guarantee that tournament will go ahead, with a biennial World T20 another proposal being considered." Richardson said, "What we want to do is differentiate our global events from each other so that they can be standalone and create maximum interest every time the event happens" (SKY SPORTS, 6/19).
TEST CRICKET REVOLUTION: In London, Tim Wigmore reported Test cricket "could be revolutionised" if the ICC's proposal to create a new nine-team league structure for the Test game is passed at this week's conference. The ICC has "long believed that Test cricket needs proper context and structure if it is to remain relevant." After a "string of recent proposals, including a two-divisional structure and conferences, have floundered," the ICC is "cautiously optimistic" that the new proposal will pass. Under the plans, the top nine Test nations in the world would each play three home and away series over a two-year cycle. At the end of the cycle, the top two nations would meet in the World Test Championship final. The first final is "likely" to be played at Lord's in '21, with Eden Gardens and the Sydney Cricket Ground also viewed as "suitable venues to host the final in the future" (INDEPENDENT, 6/20).
