The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a significant initiative to support Test cricket with a dedicated fund of approximately $15 million. The proposed fund aims to increase players’ match fees and address the challenge of talent moving to lucrative T20 leagues.
The idea, initially proposed by Cricket Australia (CA), has garnered support from key figures including BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.
The fund is intended to raise the minimum payment for Test players to around $10,000 and cover the costs of international tours. This support is particularly targeted at national boards struggling to compete with the high wages offered by global T20 competitions.
Mike Baird, chairman of Cricket Australia, expressed enthusiasm for the fund, emphasizing the need to preserve the legacy of Test cricket while encouraging its continued development alongside newer formats like T20.
The initiative is expected to benefit less wealthy cricketing nations rather than the top three cricketing nations—India, Australia, and England—which already offer competitive salaries to their players.
However, the exact allocation for Test cricket may be influenced by ongoing disputes with broadcaster Star, which is seeking to renegotiate a 2022 deal with the ICC, potentially reducing the contract’s value by half.
In a related move, the BCCI has introduced an incentive scheme to boost the profile of Test cricket in India. Under this scheme, players participating in a significant percentage of Test matches will receive additional rewards, with top performers earning up to ₹45 lakh per match.
