India-Pak Test freeze unlikely to come to an end

If one assumes the new leaguestructureforTestandoneday cricket agreed at the ICC Board meeting on Friday will finally lead to the resumption of bilateral cricket between India andPakistan,itisunlikelytohappen anytime soon.

For BCCI officials Amitabh Choudhary,actingsecretary,and Rahul Johri, the CEO, it was the biggest concern when they went fortheICCmeetinginAuckland. “We didn’t want to be docked points for not playing Pakistan, like the women’s team last season. Chaudhary and Johri had beenaskedtodiscussatthemeeting how it can be resolved,” a BCCI insider said.

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For now, the ICC has addressed thatissuebyallowingtheBoards tochoosetheir rivalsforthebilateralTestseries–theyonlyneedto play six of the other eight teams.

AccordingtotheICCarrangement, India are not required to play Pakistan in the first two cycles (2019 - 2021 and 2022 - 2024). If relations between the two nationsimprove,thetwoBoards can hold bilateral series, but it won’t be part of the league.

This arrangement is difficult to explain except that it is a compromise.Nineteamswillplaysix seriesoverthenewtwo-yearTest league cycle – three each home and away. Each series will have two to five Tests.

ButwhathappensifIndiaand Pakistan finish on top of the leaguetable?Thetoptwocontest a play-off final to decide the Test champions at Lord’s in June , 2021.“IndiaandPakistananyway play in ICC tournaments. The same arrangement will apply,” explained a source.

Theone-dayleaguewillleadto direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Like in the Test league, the ICC has sorted the situation though each team is required to play all others or be docked points. India as hosts of 2023 WorldCupwillearnanautomatic berth.

It remains to be seen whether Amitabh Choudhary and Rahul Johri can convince Board members on the ICC decision as they don’thave themandatetodecide ontheirown.“BCCIhadpasseda resolution in April stating any FTP will not be binding till it is approved by the GB. This will have to be discussed in the GB. Rightnow,ithasnorelevancefor us,” a senior Board official said. The CoA have backed the ICC move. “It’s a policy matter which will have a long-term affect. The CoA is there only to supervisethe day-to-dayaffairs.”

NINE TEAMS WILL PLAY SIX SERIES OVER THE NEW TWOYEAR TEST LEAGUE CYCLE – THREE EACH HOME AND AWAY.