Former Pakistan captain and television pundit Rashid Latif reckons attempts to split Test cricket in two tiers was based on crowds in the countries and the attempts were imminent while others feel it's down to the greed of the Big Three countries.
Reports suggest officials of the top Test teams Australia, India and England are in talks to maximise their Test matches and give the rest of the team less commitments after the next cycle that finishes in 2027. The need for such arrangements followed after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia that attracted a record crowd. Australia clinched the five-match series 3-1 after intensely followed Tests with a record 373,691 fans watched the five-day game won by Australia in the final session.
Former Pakistan captain said his views are neutral and based on facts.
I see this scheme as a neutral person. We have seen good crowds in England, Australia and India during Test matches while we see fans in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and even in New Zealand, do not come to the grounds when longer format matches are played, so this was imminent.
Latif feels the Big Three will also have to include South Africa as they too attract good numbers for the longer formats.
Fans come to grounds in England because they are traditional fans. South Africa also gets crowds because their fans also want to watch the longer format. When South Africa is at their peak in Tests they are a watchable team with good pacers.
Latif said teams can go up and down in rankings but value is based on attendance.
Cricket can go up and down. India and Australia are at the top of Test rankings but they can go down as well. All other countries where crowds do not want to go for Tests like ours are not given value and they do not get revenues. So this latest thing is all based on crowds and in turn revenues.
Another former star Kamran Akmal said greed comes into play and not the promotion of the game.
The lure to earn more money is the prime reason for this so-called two-tier or Big Three scheme and they do not consider the promotion of the game. We have countries like Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan who do not play Test cricket regularly and when they play they lack the standards. If they do not play at all against big countries then how can they improve.
Akmal also was of the view that all remaining Test playing nations should come together and protest against the move.
I hope other countries do not accept this and make compromises on this. This was initiated before as well but was shelved due to protests from other countries. It’s the duty of the ICC to keep Test cricket alive. The World Test Championship has not only kept the format alive but has given good cricket to all countries,” said Akmal, who urged ICC President Jay Shah to intervene in this matter.
This is the duty of Jay Shah. If he doesn’t keep all the countries in the family it will mean he wants cricket to finish in other countries. How will you motivate other countries if you split the top teams.
Pakistan should take a lesson from all this scheme. If they do not improve and come to the level of the top teams they will not get top level Test cricket. We have been struggling in the longer format.
Former batting star Basit Ali said the split was already visible.
Since 2019 this was evident because whenever India, England and Australia have not been involved the series is of two Tests but when these three play against each other, the series is of more than two Tests. What was that?
Pakistan Cricket Board refused to give any reaction as they see it still an unofficial thing.
