Michael Holding on two-tier Test system proposal: ‘ICC seem so weak… it must run cricket’ | Cricket News
Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding slams ICC after amidst reports of two-tier system in the Test arena. India, Australia and England, is exploring the possibility of a two-tier Test system to facilitate more series between these three nations. Earlier it has been reported that Jay Shah, the new ICC chairman, is set to meet Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and his England counterpart Richard Thompson later this month to discuss the finer points.
Holding would suggest that ICC should run cricket instead of the big three. “When England visit their countries, when India visit their countries, when Australia visit their countries, they will make money. It has to be a matter for the International Cricket Council but they seem to be so weak. They have got to get some strength where they can dictate a proper schedule and say, ‘this is what has to happen’. And people do not just go about and do as they feel like.” Holding wrote in his Telegraph Column.
“Because next thing you know, Australia, England, India or whoever are going to say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to that country. Waste of time. Why should I go?’ It has to be something that’s mandatory. This is what you do. For all its faults, at least Fifa actually runs football. The ICC must run cricket,” Holding added.
Holding also mentioned about the two-tier system. “If there is no promotion and relegation, the top division will just keep on making all the money. The bottom division will get poorer and teams will disappear. Maybe that is what they want. I get the impression that a lot of these countries that have a lot of money and take all the money out of the game want to continue and perhaps make it worse.”
“But if they are interested in the entire cricketing landscape being better, they have to go down that route. If Division Two teams have Division One teams visiting them and can sell the television rights for good money, they have the chance to pay their players a little bit better,” he said.
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