The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be introducing a World Test Championship as well as a One-Day International (ODI) League as part of its Future Tours Program (FTP) from 2018 to 2023.
The ICC said in a release the new tournaments came about as a result of a significant collective effort from the members, with support from ICC. Nine top-ranked teams will participate in the inaugural edition pf the World Test Championship, which will run from July 5, 2018 to April 30, 2020.
It said the teams will play six series in the two-year cycle on a home and away basis against opponents they have mutually selected.
The two-ranked sides will then progress to the June 2021 final to decide the World Test champions.
Additionally, the 12 Test playing nations, along with the Netherlands, will take part in the 13-team ODI League, which will be played from May 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022.
All teams will play eight series over a two-year cycle on a home and away basis against mutually agreed opponents.
The ODI League will also act as a qualification pathway for the ICC World Cup 2023, which is set to be held in India.
The hosts along with the seven highest ranked sides in the ODI League as of March 31, 2020, will qualify directly for the tournament, while the bottom five will have to play in the ICC’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive officer Johnny Grave said the initiative was an important step in developing greater contest, competition and interest for Test matches and ODIs.
