In an effort to revitalize Test cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering introducing a dedicated fund from 2025. This ICC initiative, backed by Cricket Australia chair Mark Baird and supported by the BCCI and ECB, aims to create a central fund that provides a minimum standard match fee for players across the board.
The proposed fund, which is expected to be around US $15 million, would help reduce the costs incurred by less-moneyed boards and make Test cricket more attractive to players who currently opt out of the format for bigger paydays in short-format competitions.
The nine Test-playing nations beyond India, Australia, and England, who will not be privy to the fund, often operate at a loss when it comes to red-ball cricket.
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The ICC’s test match fund is expected to provide a minimum standard match fee of around US $10,000 (approximately £7,600) per player. This would be a significant boost for boards that struggle to make ends meet when hosting international matches. For instance, Cricket West Indies recently revealed that their tour of Australia at the start of the year had cost them US $2 million.
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The ICC’s initiative is not without precedent. Last month, ECB chief executive Richard Gould revealed that Zimbabwe would be paid a “touring fee” when they come over for a one-off Test at Trent Bridge on May 22. The idea of hosts paying a fee to travelling teams has been around for a while, but this is the first time concrete moves are being made.
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The skewed economics of the global game have led boards to deal in reciprocal agreements in some form or another. The ECB has already agreed to an extra three T20Is on their 2023 limited-overs tour of the Caribbean, which were healthy money-spinners for the region. As a sweetener for West Indies Test series in England last month, the ECB will facilitate a West Indies Under-19 tour to the UK.
The ICC’s test match fund is expected to have a significant impact on the global game. By providing a minimum standard match fee for players and reducing the costs incurred by less-moneyed boards, it aims to create a more level playing field.
With the backing of BCCI secretary Jay Shah and ECB chair Richard Thompson, the initiative is gaining momentum and is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
