KOLKATA: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that all its 104-member nations - both men and women’s team - will be granted T20I status.
ICC CEO David Richardson confirmed the development in a press conference in Kolkata, and also stated that a global ranking system will be launched for the format. At present, there are 18 members with T20I status - 12 full members plus Scotland, Netherlands, Hong Kong, UAE, Oman and Nepal. “All Women’s team matches will be awarded T20 International status on July 1st 2018. All the men’s team matches will be given T20 International status on January 1st 2019,” Richardson said. In the wake of a controversy-marred Test series between South Africa and Australia, the ICC also stated that they will clamp down heavily on infringements like ball tampering and sledging. “Stricter and heavier transactions for ball tampering and using abusive language, sledging, dissent. We want penalties in place. Fines are not proving to be the answer. The cricket committee will come back with plans,” Richardson said. Even before the completion of the Champions Trophy 2017, the future of the multi-team event has been up in the air. There have been talks of scraping the trophy altogether, but Richardson has now stated that: “In all likelihood the 2021 Champions Trophy will be a World T20.”
The ICC also discussed T20 leagues and their impact on international calendars. Earlier this year, there were reports doing the rounds that from the year 2020, there won’t be any international cricket played during the IPL - paving the way for a separate window for the T20 league.
Richardson said: “There are occasions where they [T20 leagues] are competing with international bilateral series. We need to look at our regulations to see how we can allow that to happen.” “There is a common desire that it will be great if India and Pakistan can play each other, specifically in bilateral series. The issue is quite complicated I am afraid, it is going to take a lot more than just two boards agreeing,” Richardson said.
Meanwhile the future of the Champions Trophy is on shaky ground after the ICC board approved replacing the 2021 Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in India, with a World T20 in the same year. The World T20 will be also played in Australia in 2020.
