Ian Chappell Calls ICC an 'Event Management Company,' Advocates Two-Tier Test System

Former Australian star cricketing legend Ian Chappell has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC), He called the ICC an "event management company" and urged it to "run cricket." He highlighted the need for a "two-tier Test system" and Ian Chappell expressed his disappointment with how Test cricket is losing the influence of Test cricket globally.

According to reports from Ian Chappell's ESPNCricinfo column, Chappell called for stricter rules for awarding Test status to teams. He suggested the ICC should ensure a nation has "a viable first-class competition, legitimate grounds for holding five-day games with adequate facilities, and is financially stable." Chappell has criticized nations like Afghanistan's inclusion in this and he argues that Afghanistan does not meet these criteria.

Chappell wrote in the ESPNCricinfo about the inclusion of Afghanistan: "For instance, could Afghanistan hold a Test series in their strife-torn country?Does Ireland have a realistic number of Test-standard grounds?Even setting aside the Taliban's reprehensible treatment of women, the answer to those questions is: absolutely not.Then why do they have Test status?

"Because in return for Test status, they provide valuable ICC votes on important issues.The ICC is widely regarded as an event management company.They should add 'and not a very good one,'" he added.

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India's Influence on ICC

Ian Chappell praised the West Indies star fast bowler Michael Holding. Michael spoke about the proposed two-tier Test system as "For all its faults, at least FIFA actually runs soccer.The ICC must run cricket.". However, Chappell warned that this system likely involved England, India, and Australia playing more Tests against each other. He also wrote about India's influence on the ICC.

"The ICC doesn't run cricket, and unless there's a major change of heart, the financially desirable nations will continue to have a huge say in producing a self-serving schedule.Then there's the major issue of the financial split.The big three - India, Australia, and England despite being the wealthiest cricket nations claim a large slice of the money divided among cricket bodies, and yet they agitate for an even larger share.India's powerful presence in the ICC is in direct proportion to their contribution of around 70% of cricket's income.It's a complex issue to which cricket hasn't found a workable solution," he added.

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T20’s Impact on Test Cricket

Chappell also expressed his frustration over the growth of T20 cricket's influence, and he believes that this is the cause of losing the relevance of first-class cricket.

"Running a successful T20 competition improves the financial capacity of a cricket body.This, along with running a successful T20 competition being vastly more acceptable than losing money on a first-class schedule, dominates the thinking of most cricket administrators.Cricket being run by a competent ICC is a pipe dream.Hence the growing T20 calendar and the current scheduling schemozzle that plagues the game."

The proliferation and financial rewards of T20 leagues have also impacted the motivation of many players.The number of batters playing audacious shots has increased while bowlers and captains desperately seek ways to contain fast scoring," he said.

Chappell captained the Australian cricket team for four years from 1971 to 1975. He also pointed out that T20 cricket is getting more popular among the fans and that affects Test cricket.

Chappell said: "There's been a large increase in Test match results and more acceptable pitches, highlighting the importance of bowlers in producing a good spectacle.There's also a greater emphasis on playing entertaining cricket."

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