JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL
The Pakistan men’s cricket team could be placed in the second division of a new two-tier Test system being considered for the 2027–29 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, according to reports in British media.
As per the reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has set up an eight-member working group to explore the idea of introducing two divisions in Test cricket. This group was formed during the ICC Annual General Meeting (AGM) and is being led by Sanjog Gupta. The chief executives of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) are also part of the panel.
The committee is expected to present its final recommendations by the end of 2025.
If approved, the next WTC cycle will expand from nine to 12 teams. These teams would be split into two divisions of six. The top-ranked sides—South Africa, Australia, India, England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka—are likely to make up the first division.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and West Indies could find themselves in the second division, along with Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, who are expected to be added to the new WTC format.
The proposal would mark one of the most significant changes in Test cricket’s 133-year history. However, it would require a two-thirds majority vote from the ICC’s 12 full-member nations to be approved.
The most challenging issue under debate is expected to be the system of promotion and relegation between the two divisions. There are also concerns about the financial support required for the teams placed in the lower tier.
The concept of a two-division Test format was first discussed during the Women’s Ashes series in early 2024. Cricket Australia (CA) has been a strong supporter of the idea and has proposed that the ‘Big Three’—Australia, England, and India—should play each other twice every three years, instead of two series in four years.
If implemented, this system could change the dynamics of Test cricket and raise new challenges for teams like Pakistan, who have a rich history in the longest format of the game.
