ICC Unveils Ambitious Plans For Future (19 Jun 1997)

19 June 1997

ICC Unveils Ambitious Plans For Future

LONDON -- The International Cricket Council yesterday unveiled a new corporate image, ambitious plans to develop the game internationally, and gave its approval in principle to the concept of a world championship of test cricket.

The ICC, under the leadership of new president Jagmohan Dalmiya, of India, handed the responsibility of deciding the shape and format of such a championship to a committee chaired by New Zealand Cricket chairman Sir John Anderson.

It also stopped short of accepting responsibility for ruling on issues like bribery and ball-tampering, leaving it in the first instance to individual boards to resolve.

ICC chief executive David Richards said the Anderson committee would look at all aspects of the international cricket programme and was hoped to be in a position to make recommendations to the executive board meeting in December in Calcutta.

"They will look at issues like the long-term tour programme -- some countries are hooked into long-term agreements -- but there is a positive feeling that we should investigate it as far as we can."

No time frame has been imposed, but any decision will have to accept that the World Cup tournament will be held in its four-yearly cycle until 2003.

While the concept of a world test championship is still alive, the ICC is moving to expand the game globally by elevating Bangladesh to first class and one-day status, meaning any matches they play against full member countries are considered official one-day internationals, or have first class status if they are three or four day matches.

New Zealand will be one of the first countries to host Bangladesh under its elevated status when it tours in the 1997-98 season, Richards said.

In perhaps the ICC's boldest move, it has opened negotiations with the Disney Corporation to establish a triangular tournament at facilities to be constructed at Disney World in Florida.

The ICC also released the test programme through to December 1999.

New Zealand's programme is: Tours to Zimbabwe (September) and Australia (November to January); home series against Zimbabwe and tour to Sri Lanka in May 1998. December, New Zealand plays host to India, then South Africa in February-March 1999 before leaving for the Sharjah tournament and the World Cup in Britain in May and June, followed by tour of England in June and July, and tour to India in October-December. -- NZPA.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz)