Global Twenty20 Creates New Problems for ICC
DUBAI — The effects of Twenty20 on the game and how best to promote and protect Test cricket will form one of the key discussions at the two day ICC Cricket Committee in Dubai. The committee is chaired by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and packed with respected figures within the world of cricket, including ICC cricket GM; David Richardson, Mark Taylor, former Australian captain, Pakistan’s former captain Majid Khan and former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding. It also includes ICC chief match referee, umpire of the year Simon Taufel, former Sri Lankan captain Ranjan Madugalle, Kenya’s Captain Steve Tikolo, SA’s national coach Mickey Arthur and Tim May, former Australian Test off spinner and now the CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations.
Due to the changes in cricket landscape after the explosion of Twenty20 cricket, the committee will be discussing the international cricket as the pinnacle of the game, the promotion and protection of Test cricket, the effects of Twenty20 cricket on other formats of the game and the effects of domestic leagues on the international game. The committee will also finalize the playing conditions to be adopted for the proposed trial of an umpire decision review system. Broadly speaking, players will be able to ask an on-field umpire to review his own decision with the consultation of the television umpire. The committee will consider the specific conditions planned for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 championship and ICC Champions Trophy. As part of this, it will consider the idea of letting the batting team choose when to take one of three powerplays. The committee will consider progress made in research relating to volume of cricket and bad light. The remit of the ICC cricket committee is to talk about and consult on cricket-playing matters and formulate certain recommendations to the CEC and the ICC Board for approval. The next meetings of those committees are to be held in Dubai, from June 29 to July 4, 2008