Former Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief Dave Cameron, who wants to become the next Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), believes that the Test cricket should be mandatory for the smaller teams. He also wants more T20 leagues in future.
While recently Shashank Manohar ended the ICC Chairman post, the world governing cricket body is now searching for the new ICC Chairman.
In a recent interview to PTI, Dave Cameron opened up his views about the future of world cricket. He feels that the Test cricket should be optional for the smaller teams.
Cameron told PTI, “(Playing) Test cricket should be a choice for smaller teams like Afghanistan and Ireland, it should not be mandatory.”
England’s Colin Graves is one of the favourites to become the next ICC Chairman. On the other hand, the present Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly can also be the front runner for this chair if he decides to become the next ICC Chairman. While at least two votes require from the ICC board, Cameron has claimed that he has these votes.
He added, “I have those votes I don’t think it will change. I am still waiting to hear about Ganguly’s future in the ICC. They have not finalised the election process yet.”
I see a longer IPL: Dave Cameron
While the T20 leagues are more profitable events now, Cameron feels that they should utilise it to grow up the game in the world. He also feels that the IPL and other top T20 leagues should be longer. Cameron also believes that more ICC events are not going to help the smaller countries.
Cameron claimed, “It is a vision which includes growing the game outside the sub-continent, we need to grow in China and other places. It is a plan that has to include India. Any globalisation will require investments from India (who generates 80 percent of game’s revenues).
“I see a longer IPL, I see longer leagues in Australia and England. The most profitable events we have now is T20 leagues and we need to grow that, take them to places like US and grow the opportunities have more players to participate in those leagues and have less international cricket, leading to more profitability. This thing of trying to do more ICC events is not going to help the smaller countries because there is not enough space in the calendar.”
Cameron also brought an example of how the West Indies cricket team can grow up in the present circumstances.
He said, “For example, a team like the West Indies plays less international games in a year but their players are able to play in the best leagues around the world and then they come to play for the country. That way players make more money, their board will not have to spend money on retaining its best players and we focus on continuous development of the sport with that money.”
We are trying to talk about tradition versus what the players want: Dave Cameron
While Cameron was asked whether he was putting lesser importance to the Test cricket, he clarified that until the smaller teams are becoming competitive, they couldn’t enjoy the Test cricket.
He claimed, “We are living in a capitalist world. We are trying to talk about tradition versus what the players want. The players want to be paid. Yes Test cricket is great and it is a tradition and it will survive for another few years between the big countries (India, England, Australia) but the truth is smaller counties like Afghanistan and Ireland should not be forced to play Test cricket until they can be competitive. You are wasting resources. Like women’s cricket, they should play only ODIs and T20s.”
While he was asked about the postponement of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 that opened up the window for the IPL 2020, Cameron believes that IPL is more important the World Cup.
Cameron said, “The IPL is way a more valuable product than the T20 World Cup. Let’s be very clear about that. India will make a lot more money and so as the players. The players themselves would prefer playing in IPL than the World Cup.”