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Sanctity of Tests to remain atop: ICC chief
Melbourne—Incoming International Cricket Council (ICC)
chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that the sanctity of Test cricket
would remain, despite the frenzied grab for Twenty20 dollars, it was
reported by the media here Friday.
As New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee said Thursday that cricket was
at the crossroads because of the game’s latest phenomenon, Lorgat,
who will replace Malcolm Speed as the ICC chief executive in July,
moved to ease growing fears over the traditional five-day format.
“I sat in on the ICC cricket committee meeting this month and they
were very clear that Test cricket should remain the pinnacle of the
game. And I agree,” Lorgat was quoted as saying in the Herald
Sun.Twenty20, which began in England in 2003, is making rapid
progress as the game’s most popular format. A slew of Twenty20
events have surfaced since the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World
Championship in September. Cricket Australia is the latest governing
board to investigate whether it is feasible to follow the lead of
the Indian Premier League and the rebel Indian Cricket League and
stage its own Twenty20 tournament. England, the West Indies and
Pakistan also want to make up ground and cash in on the Twenty20
rage after India took the initiative. “It’s a form of the game we
can use as a wonderful opportunity to grow cricket globally, though
we will have to manage the load that Twenty20 takes on against Test
and 50-over cricket,” Lorgat said. “We might be having too much of
it at first, but I hope going forward we can keep a sensible balance
between Twenty20 and the other formats.”
Hadlee, one of the game’s greatest fast bowlers, has urged the ICC
to ensure the IPL becomes a stand-alone tournament in an already
crowded schedule so it does not rob international cricket of its
best players. For this to happen, governing bodies may demand
compensation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India because
of reduced time to stage profitable Test and one-day international
series. Most countries remain frustrated they do not receive a cent
from the IPL, despite providing some of the tournament’s leading
talent.—Agencies
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