He urged other member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to prioritize addressing problems related to retaining players for Test matches in countries beyond the “big three” nations in the upcoming board meeting.
Baird emphasized that Cricket Australia (CA), the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the England and Wales Cricket Board must be ready to utilize their own financial reserves to assist countries like South Africa, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka. This recognition comes as it becomes evident that relying solely on bilateral touring arrangements is insufficient.
In this part of the article, Mike Baird, the Cricket Australia chair, expresses concern about the potential consequences if national teams are not prioritized in cricket. He acknowledges that there is both an economic and a commonsense element involved in addressing the issues surrounding Test cricket.
Baird emphasizes the need for quick action and a shift in agenda to prioritize the health of Test cricket. He mentions that work is already underway to address the challenges faced by the sport but stresses the urgency of moving at a quicker pace.
The article also highlights an agreement signed by Baird and Cricket Australia with the International Cricket Council (ICC) the previous year.
The plan involved allocating nearly 40% of a $5 billion pool of global event revenue to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is considered cricket’s financial powerhouse. While Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) accepted smaller portions of the revenue pool, they are not as dependent on that source of funding compared to some other cricketing nations. This information provides context on the financial dynamics within international cricket.
