The world cricket governing body International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Future Tour Programme for the next five-year cycle. It contains the much-anticipated ICC Test Championship and One-day International Qualification League.
In the Test championship, the nine top-ranked Test nations will fight it out for the ultimate prize.
In addition, the two-year cycle will get underway in June 2019 after the conclusion of the 50-over World Cup. There will be a six-series league phase before the top sides will fight out in the final.
The grand finale of the championship will be held on April 30, 2021. During the two-year period, the distinct teams will play six bilateral series (three home, three away) against opponents of their choice.
According to the new FTP, ICC preserved the five-match Ashes Test series under the new Test championship.
“The agreement of this FTP means we have clarity, certainty and most importantly context around bilateral cricket over the next five years. The World Test Championship will get underway next year with the ODI league kicking off in 2020 as part of the qualification towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said in a release.
Apart from the Ashes rivals, Indian Team is the only side to feature in five-Test series in the next FTP cycle. They will play England twice over the next four years.
“Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but with the release of this FTP, our Members have found a genuine solution that gives fans around the world the chance to engage regularly with international cricket that has meaning and the possibility of a global title at the end,” Richardson added.
Here’s how ICC Test Championship schedule of each of the nine teams looks like:
India |
| July-August 2019: Two away Tests in West Indies. |
| October-November 2019: Three home Tests against South Africa. |
| November 2019: Two home Tests against Bangladesh. |
| February 2020: Two away Tests in New Zealand. |
| December 2020: Four away Tests in Australia |
| January-February 2021: Five home Tests against England. |
South Africa |
| October 2019: Three away Tests in India. |
| December 2019-January 2020 – Four home Tests against England. |
| July-August 2020: Two away Tests in West Indies. |
| January 2021: Two home Tests against Sri Lanka. |
| January-February 2021: Two away Tests against Pakistan. |
| February-March 2021: Three home Tests against Australia. |
Australia |
| July-August-September 2019: Five Ashes Tests away in England. |
| November 2019: Two home Tests against Pakistan. |
| December 2019-January 2020: Three home Tests against New Zealand. |
| February 2020: Two away Tests against Bangladesh. |
| November-December 2020: Four home Tests against India. |
| February-March 2021: Three away Tests against South Africa. |
New Zealand |
| July-August 2019: Two away Tests in Sri Lanka. |
| December 2019-January 2020: Three away Tests in Australia. |
| February 2020: Two home Tests against India. |
| August-September 2020: Two away Tests in Bangladesh. |
| November-December 2020: Three home Tests against Windies. |
| December 2020: Two home Tests against Pakistan. |
England |
| July-August 2019: Five Ashes Tests at home against Australia. |
| December 2019-January 2020: Four away Tests in South Africa. |
| March 2020: Two away Tests in Sri Lanka. |
| June-July 2020: Three home Tests against Windies. |
| July-August 2020: Three home Tests against Pakistan. |
| January-February 2021: Five away Tests in India. |
Sri Lanka |
| July-August 2019: Two home Tests against New Zealand. |
| October 2019: Two away Tests against Pakistan. |
| March-April 2020: Two home Tests against England. |
| July-August 2020: Three home Tests against Bangladesh. |
| January 2021: Two away Tests in South Africa. |
| February-March 2021: Two away Tests in West Indies. |
Pakistan |
| October 2019: Two home Tests against Sri Lanka. |
| November-December 2019: Two away Tests in Australia. |
| January-February 2020: Two home Tests against Bangladesh. |
| July-August 2020: Three away Tests in England. |
| December 2020: Two away Tests in New Zealand. |
| January-February 2021: Two home Tests against South Africa. |
Bangladesh |
| November 2019: Two away Tests in India. |
| January-February 2020: Two away Tests in Pakistan. |
| February 2020: Two home Tests against Australia. |
| July-August 2020: Three away Tests in Sri Lanka. |
| August-September 2020: Two home Tests against New Zealand. |
| January-February 2021: Three home Tests against Windies. |
Windies |
| July-August 2019: Two home Tests against India. |
| June-July 2020: Three away Tests in England. |
| July-August 2020: Two home Tests against South Africa. |
| November-December 2020: Three away Tests in New Zealand. |
| January-February 2021: Three away Tests in Bangladesh. |
| February-March 2021: Two home Tests in Sri Lanka. |