BCCI say no to attend ICC meeting on World Test Championship, still maintaining resistance against proposed event

New Delhi: In a recent turn of events, the Board For Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has denied to attend International Cricket Council's (ICC) meeting on 'World Test Championship'. A two day meeting was arranged to discuss the the proposed World Test Championship.

One of the reasons why BCCI has denied to attend the meeting is ICC's slow process of not giving a Test status to members like Afghanistan and Ireland.

A BCCI official told TOI “How can a nine-plus-three structure be proposed in the first place when the ICC Board is yet to ratify Ireland and Afghanistan’s full membership status?” They (certain ICC board members) are just trying to test the waters and gauge the mood of members. In the process, they’re still thinking that a “weak” BCCI may not resist,” the official added.

The BCCI has been strongly opposing the proposed World Test Championship since it was ideated. It was first planned in 2013 and then in 2017, but got canceled. In October 2016, ICC planned to have a two-tier structure, BCCI's strong resistance was one of the main reasons for cancelling the World Test Championship.

According to the ICC, the top 9 times teams will play 4 Test series at home and 4 Test series away over a period of 2 years. The top 4 teams would then play in play-offs and the final two would settle to become the champions.

The future of the Test championship will be decided in April when ICC's Chief Executive Meeting will take place.