Cricket’s administrators are edging towards a broader, more flexible World Test Championship (WTC) that could finally bring Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe into the fold. A working group headed by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose is expected to put a fresh proposal in front of the ICC board later this month, or early May at the latest, according to several officials involved in the talks.
The central idea is simple: accept one-Test series as full WTC fixtures and expand the field from nine to 12 Full Members. At present, every WTC series must contain at least two Tests, a requirement that many boards consider too costly when hosting lower-profile opponents. “A single Test is far easier to slot into a busy calendar and far cheaper to stage,” one senior administrator said. “If we want the championship to be genuinely global, we have to be realistic about money.”
Key points
• Proposal would allow Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland to join the WTC from the next cycle (2027-29).
• One-off Tests would carry the same league points as matches in longer series.
• Boards could arrange those fixtures bilaterally, fitting them into existing tours or home seasons.
• The ICC must still settle on dates and a venue for the rearranged board meeting after last month’s session was postponed.
Financial intent, sporting logic
The concept is hardly radical – one-Test series were common before the WTC era – but giving them championship status would be a first. Twose’s working group initially floated a two-division model last November, only for multiple Full Members to shoot it down over fears of relegation. The new pitch, insiders say, keeps the single-table format yet widens participation.
An official familiar with the numbers described the move as “a pragmatic halfway house,” adding: “Nobody wants to run loss-making events, but nobody wants three Full Members stranded outside the flagship Test competition either.”
How might it work?
England could, for example, tack a solitary Test against Ireland onto the back of a five-match Ashes summer, with WTC points on offer. Similarly, a visiting side en route to South Africa might drop into Harare for a one-off fixture against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan could host, or more likely play at a neutral venue, before or after touring sides visit India. Travel costs fall, television windows remain intact and the smaller boards get meaningful Test cricket.
Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie welcomed the prospect when asked this week, saying, “It’s what we’ve been pushing for since we got Test status. One match is better than none, and if points are on the line it carries real weight.” Zimbabwe’s director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza struck a cautious note: “We have to be certain we can fund it, but giving our players a pathway into the WTC is massive motivation.”
Lingering hurdles
There are, inevitably, questions. Will a single Test generate enough broadcast interest outside England, Australia and India? How will ranking points be balanced so that a team playing several one-off games is not unfairly advantaged or penalised compared to one contesting longer series? And can Afghanistan commit to a two-year Test programme given their well-documented logistical challenges?
A board director told me plainly, “If we get the green light, we’ll have to firm up minimum guarantees for travel and accommodation, otherwise you’ll see cancellations.” Another warned that altering the points system might spark fresh debate: “Whatever we do, someone will claim the maths favour the Big Three.”
Next steps
The ICC is still finalising an in-person board meeting after last month’s Doha gathering was reduced to online exchanges amid turmoil in West Asia. Dates and a venue should be confirmed shortly. Twose’s paper will be circulated in advance so members can consult finance teams and broadcasters. A straight up-or-down vote is unlikely; more realistically the board will seek consensus and mandate further modelling by June.
For now, players in Harare, Kabul and Dublin are watching closely. Test cricket remains their ultimate benchmark. A place at the WTC table, even one match at a time, would be a tangible step forward. And for the global game, a slightly untidy schedule might be a worthwhile price for a more inclusive championship.
