ICC mulls creating multi-million dollar fund to save Test cricket; players minimum wage to increase- Reports

Cricket’s apex body – the International Cricket Council (ICC), is said to be mulling over creating a multi-million dollar fund ($15m) to save the dying format – Test Cricket, per the latest reports. With the growth of franchise-based T20 cricket worldwide, mainly for two reasons – the money flow that comes with that and the exposure that players get by playing in different conditions, the ICC felt the need to take the required measures to preserve Test cricket.

Per a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia (CA) were the first to float this plan in January early this year, which later got the backing of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who might become the next ICC chairman.

The funding pool will serve several purposes, from bearing the costs of overseas tours for financially struggling countries to increasing the minimum wage for all Test players to USD 10,000 per game. It will help boards like Cricket West Indies (CWC), which has struggled to confine their talent to represent the country across formats, instead of getting distracted by the lucrative offers from franchise-based league cricket.

"The fund would ensure a minimum Test payment for all players, thought to be USD 10,000, and pay the costs of overseas tours for struggling countries," the report stated.

"It's fantastic to see some momentum behind the Test match fund," CA chairman Mike Baird said.

"We need to take away the barriers and encourage Test cricket to be the best of the best. To retain that history and that legacy, which goes alongside the newer forms of white ball cricket," he added.

BCCI, CA and ECB not to be benefitted

Meanwhile, the top three wealthiest cricket boards – BCCI, CA and ECB, are unlikely to reap the rewards of this as their players already receive hefty salaries to represent their Test teams.

Earlier this year, the BCCI also introduced an incentive program for the senior men’s cricket team to motivate them to focus on Test cricket, with the board offering increased salaries for those abiding by it.

Per that scheme, an Indian Test cricketer, in addition to receiving INR 15 lakh as a match fee, will pocket a whopping INR 45 lakh match-wise under this program if he participates in at least 75 per centof Tests within a yearly cycle that runs from September to October.

Besides, the players who feature in between 50-75 per centof matches would receive a bonus of INR 30 lakh per match. Those picked in the squad but not selected in the playing XI will receive half of the amount under both brackets.

However, the players who appear in less than half of the matches (less than 50 per cent) scheduled during a window will not be eligible to get paid extra.

(With inputs from agencies)