Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) Terming the 50-over Champions Trophy as “too similar to a World Cup”, ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson on Thursday said the next edition of the tournament, in 2021, will be converted into a World T20.

“The Champions Trophy, in a way, was too similar to the World Cup. It was difficult to differentiate,” Richardson told reporters at a press briefing held at the end of the five-day ICC quarterly meet here.

“The new FTP (Future Tours Programme 2019-2023) not only includes the fixtures in the league but it would also comprise of the two World Cups — the 50 over World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

“It will include the World T20 in Australia, both men’s and women’s. It will also include at this stage the Champions Trophy in 2021 but in all likelihood we have decided that we would change it to World T20 and that fits in with our strategy now to use the T20 cricket as the way of growing the game by virtue of having it twice in every four years instead of once.”

“The World T20 will give more teams the chance to play in global events,” Richardson added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was against the proposed idea of the Champions Trophy being made into a World T20, but Richardson said the Indian board’s “representative” voted in favour of the move.

Sources later said acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhury was present in the meeting and voted in favour of the decision.

“As far as the conversion from Champions Trophy to World T20 is concerned, the BCCI representative attended the meeting when that happened and the vote was passed unanimously. So I don’t think that’s an issue,” the former South Africa wicketkeeper said.

Asked about tax issues affecting India in hosting the 2021 event and the 2023 World Cup later, Richardson said: “The tax exemptions I will leave aside for the moment. Obviously, at this stage anyway, the event is scheduled for India and so is the World Cup in 2023. We want to work with the BCCI in trying to secure a favourable tax situation.”

The Indian government refused to exempt the 2016 World Twenty20 leading to the ICC suffering a revenue deficit. Since then, the BCCI has tried desperately to alter their stance, but to no avail.

There will be a World T20 in Australia in 2020 followed by another T20 meet, replacing the Champions Trophy next year.

Asked about the overdose, Richardson said they were forced to schedule it in such a manner due to bilateral series commitments of teams.

The former Protea stumper said from then on, there will be World T20s every two years.

“It’s a little bit unfortunate we are having an event in 2020 and twelve months later we are having another one, unfortunately that is because of the schedule. There would have been an option of moving the 2021 T20 into 2022, but with the bilateral series going on we coudn’t.

“Going forward, every two years (we will have) a World T20, every four years the World Cup and the ODI league building up to each World Cup,” he said.

Richardson was asked about the ICC Test Championship not having India and Pakistan in the first FTP cycle, and keeping in mind the political tension between the two nations, how does ICC plan to go about it?

“Certainly it’s a common desire that it would be great to play more regularly and bilaterally as opposed to ICC events,” he said.

“It’s an issue that’s beyond an area of influence quite frankly. Even the BCCI can’t also simply decide, likewise with Pakistan. It’s more complicated. Unfortunately we will not let upon on our efforts. It’s going to take a lot more than just two boards just agree.”

Richardson said they’re pragmatic in their approach to India-Pakistan as the latter has claimed $70 million compensation claiming a violation of contract to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

–IANS
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