ICC could place cap on number of Test teams after WTC 2025-27 cycle

The International Cricket Council (ICC) may 5have changed the course of cricket at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore. Test cricket, which some have said is dying a slow death due to the advent of T20 cricket, has been dealt a significant blow.

Test cricket’s future hangs in the balance

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the ICC could place a cap on the number of countries playing Test cricket after the current Future Tour Program (FTP) concludes with the end of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle in June 2027.

Steam was already building with regard to creating two divisions for Test cricket. The ICC will decide on a potential split by the end of 2025. But more importantly, a decision might be made regarding which teams will play Test cricket and which won’t.

The ICC will follow the ‘money method.’ Cricket nations that earn money from playing Test cricket will continue playing it. The Big 3 of India, Australia, and England will certainly continue. Others, like New Zealand and Pakistan, don’t seem to be in danger either.

However, some boards don’t have the resources to finance Test cricket. The West Indies loses money by hosting red-ball matches. Other teams that fail to generate money include Zimbabwe and Ireland. Even South Africa struggles with it.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah will be presented with interim findings on the matter by Cricket Australia, the England & Wales Cricket Board, six other cricket boards, and new ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta by the end of the year.

Teams with Test status

• Australia (15 March 1877)
• England (15 March 1877)
• South Africa (12 March 1889)
• West Indies (23 June 1928)
• New Zealand (10 January 1930)
• India (25 June 1932)
• Pakistan (16 October 1952)
• Sri Lanka (17 February 1982)
• Zimbabwe (18 October 1992)
• Bangladesh (10 November 2000)
• Ireland (11 May 2018)
• Afghanistan (14 June 2018)