Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering establishing a dedicated fund to bolster Test cricket and level the playing field for boards outside the "Big Three" (India, Australia, and England). This initiative aims to provide a minimum standard match fee of approximately US $10,000 for players across all Test-playing nations.The fund, driven by Cricket Australia chair Mark Baird and supported by the BCCI and ECB, is intended to make Test cricket more appealing to players who may otherwise opt for more lucrative franchise leagues. It would also reduce the financial burden on less-wealthy boards, which often incur losses when hosting Test matches.The fund is expected to be in the region of US $15 million and has the backing of BCCI secretary Jay Shah and ECB chair Richard Thompson. It is currently in its formative stages and has not yet been formally discussed by the ICC board or executive committee.Baird expressed optimism about the fund's potential, stating, "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."The ECB has already implemented a similar concept, agreeing to pay Zimbabwe a "touring fee" for their upcoming Test match at Trent Bridge. This move reflects the growing recognition that boards need to find ways to make Test cricket financially viable for all nations.The ICC's proposed fund would be a significant step towards ensuring that Test cricket remains a vibrant and competitive format. It would provide a financial incentive for players to prioritize Test cricket and help to level the playing field for boards outside the "Big Three."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering establishing a dedicated fund of at least USD 15 million to support Test cricket. This initiative aims to increase player match fees and address the migration of talent to lucrative T20 franchise leagues.The proposal, put forward by Cricket Australia (CA), has garnered support from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who is poised to become the next ICC Chairman, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The fund would enhance the minimum match payment for Test players and cover the expenses of overseas tours.This initiative is particularly crucial for national boards like the West Indies, which face challenges in competing with the salaries offered by global T20 competitions. The fund would ensure a minimum Test payment of USD 10,000 for all players and cover the costs of overseas tours for struggling countries.CA Chairman Mike Baird, who initially proposed the concept, expressed enthusiasm for the momentum behind the Test match fund. He emphasized the need to eliminate barriers and promote Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport, preserving its history and legacy alongside newer white-ball formats.However, the fund is unlikely to benefit the three wealthiest cricket nations – India, Australia, and England – as they already provide substantial salaries to their players. The availability of funds for Test cricket from the ICC may also be influenced by an ongoing dispute with broadcaster Star, which seeks to renegotiate a 2022 broadcast deal and reduce its value by half.The BCCI has implemented an incentive scheme for India's men's Test cricketers to prioritize the format and reward consistent performances. Players who participate in at least 75% of India's Test matches in a season earn a bonus of Rs 45 lakh per match, in addition to the regular Test match fees of Rs 15 lakh.The ICC's proposed Test cricket fund is a significant step towards preserving the integrity and competitiveness of the longest format of the game. By addressing financial concerns and supporting struggling nations, the fund aims to ensure the continued growth and popularity of Test cricket worldwide.

Jhye Richardson, a promising Australian fast bowler, is poised to make his long-awaited return to domestic cricket in the upcoming Top End T20 tournament in Darwin. Richardson, who has been sidelined with injuries since January, has been included in the Perth Scorchers' squad for the tournament.Richardson's inclusion is a significant boost for the Scorchers, who are fielding a young squad featuring players on the fringes of the Big Bash League (BBL) and Western Australia sides. The 26-year-old has not played a competitive match in Australia since injuring himself during the BBL, but he made a brief appearance for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.Despite his recent injury setbacks, Richardson remains a highly regarded bowler. He was awarded a Cricket Australia contract in March and has been part of an Australia training camp in Brisbane this week. However, selectors have opted to take a long-term view with Richardson, hoping that he can overcome the injury issues that have hampered his international career."He's fit and firing now, and again looking for match opportunities," national selector George Bailey said last month. "I think he'll get opportunities again across the summer."Richardson will be joined in the Scorchers' squad by fellow quick Matt Kelly, who also missed the latter part of last season due to injury. Batter Sam Fanning has been named captain, while Baxter Holt, who recently moved to Western Australia from New South Wales, is also included."We also see this tournament as an opportunity for Jhye and Kells [Matt Kelly] to find touch in a competitive environment," stand-in coach Tim MacDonald said. "They didn't play a lot of cricket last year but they're a big part of what we do at the Scorchers and WA, so we're looking forward to seeing both of them back in action."The Top End competition will provide Richardson with a valuable opportunity to regain match fitness and prove his readiness for a return to international cricket. The tournament features a strong field of teams, including Northern Territory Strike, Pakistan A, ACT, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, and a Bangladesh High Performance side.

Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive, has announced his resignation, effective March 2023, after five years at the helm. Hockley's tenure has been marked by significant challenges and achievements, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the game's financial stability.Hockley initially assumed the role on an interim basis in 2020 following the resignation of Kevin Roberts. He was appointed full-time in May 2021 after successfully guiding the game through the 2020-21 season amidst border closures and the successful hosting of the Test series against India.During his tenure, Hockley faced challenges such as a standoff with broadcaster Channel Seven over a discount, which was eventually resolved. He also oversaw a smoother MoU agreement compared to 2017, resulting in significant pay increases in the women's game.Hockley had to deal with the controversial departure of Tim Paine as Test captain and the subsequent transition to Pat Cummins. He also attempted to overturn David Warner's lifetime leadership ban, but the case fell apart in late 2022.Despite these challenges, Hockley's tenure has been marked by significant on-field success. The men's and women's teams have won T20 and ODI World Cups, while the men claimed the World Test Championship and the women won gold in the Commonwealth Games. The men's team also toured Pakistan for the first time since 1998.Hockley has also led the implementation of CA's Multicultural Action Plan, aiming to improve participation and attendance among South Asian communities.CA chair Mike Baird praised Hockley's leadership, stating that he "navigated the sport through a period of unprecedented challenge during the pandemic and has delivered significant growth and stability."Prior to his elevation to the top CA role, Hockley had been involved in organizing major cricket events, including the 2020 T20 Women's World Cup and the 2015 men's World Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing mounting pressure to address the Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) failure to field a women's team, a key criterion for Full Membership. At the ICC's annual meetings in Colombo this weekend, the prospect of ring-fencing funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is expected to be raised.Several cricket boards, including Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), are reportedly keen to discuss the possibility of setting aside a percentage of the ICC's annual revenue distribution to Afghanistan for the development of women's cricket. This move would ensure that funds are specifically allocated and used towards supporting women's cricket in the country.The discussion has gained urgency following a letter from 17 Afghanistan women cricketers to ICC Chair Greg Barclay. The letter requested assistance in establishing a refugee team in Australia, where many of them have fled. The letter acknowledged the achievements of the Afghanistan men's team but highlighted the Taliban's restrictive policies that prevent the ACB from recognizing a women's team.Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's rights in Afghanistan have been severely curtailed, including restrictions on education, work, and sporting activities. The 17 women cricketers have asked the ICC to recognize them as a refugee team under the East Asian Cricket office based at Cricket Australia.However, any such discussion will face complexities. The ICC's revenue distribution model does not specify how much money should be spent on women's cricket, making it challenging to determine an appropriate percentage to set aside. Additionally, the ACB receives approximately USD 17 million annually from the ICC, and it is unclear who would be responsible for directing the funds towards women's cricket.The ICC relies on individual boards to compile and recognize teams, so it cannot officially recognize the 17 women who wrote to the ICC. These questions will need to be addressed if a proposal to ring-fence funds for Afghanistan women's cricket is agreed upon.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has proposed a groundbreaking initiative to promote disability cricket globally. In a letter to his counterparts at the BCCI, Cricket Australia, PCB, and CSA, ECB secretary Richard Gould outlined plans to establish two national disability teams: one for visually impaired (blind) and one combined (physically challenged, intellectually challenged, and hearing impaired).Currently, India has a Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), but the BCCI does not organize any tournaments independently. Gould's proposal aims to address the lack of structure and support for disability cricket worldwide."We propose boards operate two international teams -- a blind XI as a standalone format and then a pan-disability format with squads consisting of deaf, intellectually impaired and physically disabled cricketers," Gould wrote. "We would be keen and willing to host the inaugural pan-disability tournament involving our five nations in 2025."Gould emphasized the need to prioritize disability cricket, citing the untapped market of 1.3 billion people with disabilities globally. He also acknowledged the lack of coordination and strategy in the sport."There are many different codes of disability cricket -- blind, deaf, intellectual impairment and physical disability and there has been widespread lack of co-ordination and strategy that sits across all four," Gould wrote. "This has not been an area of sport we have collectively prioritised and although financial restraints are felt as prevalently now as ever, now is the time for us to come together to turbocharge the disability game."Ravi Chauhan, the boss of DCCI, will participate in discussions in Sri Lanka, serving as a bridge between his committee and the BCCI. The ICC has expressed support for the initiative, recognizing the importance of member-driven efforts.

Cricket Australia (CA) remains steadfast in its decision to withhold bilateral cricket matches with Afghanistan due to the Taliban government's stance on women's rights. CA CEO Nick Hockley emphasized that ongoing discussions with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have not yielded sufficient progress.Despite withdrawing from three bilateral series with Afghanistan, Australia has continued to face the team at ICC events. Following Afghanistan's historic victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, Usman Khawaja and Rashid Khan expressed contrasting views on CA's stance.Hockley acknowledged Afghanistan's impressive performance in the tournament but reiterated CA's commitment to human rights. He stated that the decision to postpone bilateral matches was made after extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Australian government.CA maintains regular dialogue with the ACB and hopes to resume bilateral cricket in the future. However, the organization emphasizes the need for progress on women's rights.Meanwhile, 17 Afghanistan women players have appealed to the ICC for assistance in establishing a refugee team based in Australia. Hockley acknowledged the request and indicated that it would be discussed at upcoming ICC meetings.Hockley also confirmed that Australia is eager to host Bangladesh's men's team in the next FTP cycle. Bangladesh last played Tests in Australia in 2003 and a bilateral ODI series in 2008.

The Australian domestic cricket season for 2024-25 is set to witness a flurry of player movements, with all state squads now finalized. Here's a comprehensive overview of the changes:New South Wales:The Blues have bolstered their batting lineup with the acquisition of Nic Maddinson from Victoria and Josh Philippe from Western Australia. Sam Konstas also joins the squad. Departing players include Baxter Holt, Blake MacDonald, Ross Pawson, and Jason Sangha.Victoria:The Vics have lost Maddinson to New South Wales but have gained Josh Brown. Sasha Moloney has moved to Tasmania, while Travis Dean, Matt Fotia, Tom O'Donnell, and Wil Parker have departed.Queensland:The Bulls have made significant additions to their squad, including Angus Lovell, Lachlan Hearne, Callum Vidler, Lachlan Aitken, Jem Ryan, and Tom Straker. Joe Burns, James Bazley, Blake Edwards, Aryan Jain, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Will Prestwidge have moved on.South Australia:The Redbacks have welcomed Mackenzie Harvey from Victoria, Conor McInerney from New South Wales, and Jason Sangha from Queensland. Campbell Thompson also joins the squad. Departing players include Jake Carder, David Grant, Isaac Higgins, and Kelvin Smith.Western Australia:The Warriors have acquired Keaton Critchell and Brody Couch from Victoria, as well as Baxter Holt from New South Wales. Corey Wasley also joins the squad. Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis, and AJ Tye have departed.Tasmania:The Tigers have signed Matt Kuhnemann and Will Prestwidge from Queensland, as well as Kieran Elliot and Raf Macmillan. Sam Rainbird, Matthew Wade, and Paddy Dooley have moved on.ACT:The Meteors have lost Zoe Cooke to Queensland and Anesu Mushangwe to South Australia. Kayla Burton, Rebecca Carter, Chloe Rafferty, and Jannatul Sumona have also departed.

Australia's Test stalwart Usman Khawaja has expressed his disappointment over Afghanistan's inability to play in Australia, despite Afghanistan's historic 2024 T20 World Cup victory over his team.Earlier this year, Cricket Australia (CA) canceled a bilateral series against Afghanistan due to the country's "marked deterioration" in the treatment of women and children under the Taliban regime. The decision left the Afghanistan cricketers perplexed, but Khawaja hailed them as an inspiration.In response to a tweet by Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan celebrating their 21-run win over Australia, Khawaja tweeted: "Well done Brother. Better team on the day. You boys are an inspiration for so many back home and abroad. So sad we can't see you all play in Australia."CA had canceled a planned bilateral series against Afghanistan in 2023 and 2024 due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's education and access to public spaces.In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan needed a win to stay alive and posted a total of 148. Australia's opening pair failed to deliver, and despite Glenn Maxwell's efforts, Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib emerged as the hero with four wickets.Afghanistan bundled out Australia for 127, securing their first T20 World Cup victory over the Aussies. If Afghanistan defeats Bangladesh in their final Super 8 clash and Australia loses to India, Afghanistan will advance to the semifinals.Khawaja's comments highlight the complex relationship between sports and politics. While CA's decision was based on human rights concerns, it has deprived Australian fans of the opportunity to witness the rise of Afghanistan's talented cricket team.