ICC Board To Discuss Spot-Fixing And Test League

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board is set to meet in Dubai later this week, and they will discuss spot-fixing and the future tours programme as the two most prominent issues on the agenda.

The board is to be updated on the progress of allegations of spot-fixing against three Pakistan players - Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt - ahead of their hearing against a provisional suspension from playing in all cricket on 30th and 31st October.

They will then consider a number of proposals regarding a new future tours programme put to them by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee, namely:

• The FTP should consist of a Test league to provide context for all Test matches. The league would determine the top four teams to qualify for an ICC Test play-off
• The play-off should be held once every four years to determine the Test champion team with a request to hold the first such play-off in 2013
• The FTP should also consist of a One-Day International league, the first to run from April 2011 until April 2014, culminating in the crowning of an ODI league champion. This would run separate to the ICC Cricket World Cup
• The ICC Cricket World Cup should consist of a 10-team format from 2015
• The ICC World Twenty20 should consist of a 16-team format from 2012, with the women’s event continuing to run alongside
  
• The introduction of Twenty20 International rankings table as soon as this is justifiable.

The board will also hear updates on a range of issues, including the development of cricket in China (from the Asian Cricket Council), the United States of America (from New Zealand cricket, cricket in Zimbabwe, Pakistan and the 2011 World Cup, to be held in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

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