Cricket West Indies CEO Calls for BCCI’s Stronger Leadership in Protecting Test Cricket
Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave has urged the BCCI to take a more proactive leadership role in ensuring the survival and growth of Test cricket, particularly in regions like the West Indies. Grave, who joined CWI in 2017, praised the BCCI’s commitment to the longest format despite a hectic schedule, but emphasized the need for greater support at the ICC level to safeguard Test cricket outside of the traditional powerhouses of India, England, and Australia.
Grave, who is currently involved in co-hosting the T20 World Cup, highlighted the fact that only three of the nine ICC Full Members will play a five-match series in the 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle, while Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe have never been a part of the championship since its inception in 2019.
“India have a leadership role to play,” Grave acknowledged the BCCI’s growing influence and resources, and commended their continued commitment to all three formats of the game. However, he believes more can be done at the ICC level to protect Test cricket in regions like the West Indies.
Grave proposed several measures to address the issue, including centralizing travel costs and accommodation within the World Test Championship and having the ICC shoulder these expenses, rather than placing the burden on the participating teams. He argued that this would help level the playing field, especially for teams like the West Indies, which have to bear significant travel costs due to their geographical location.
Additionally, Grave called for a more equal distribution of ICC revenue, stating that the CWI has made the point that there should be a more equitable revenue-sharing model. He also advocated for the hosting rights of men’s global events to be spread across more nations, rather than being dominated by the traditional cricketing powerhouses.
“We made the point that we think there should be more equal revenue sharing of ICC distributions. And part of that equality was the spreading around the men’s events,” Grave said.
The T20 World Cup, the first ICC men’s event to be held in the Caribbean since 2010, is expected to provide a much-needed financial boost to the CWI, which generates an annual revenue of $50 million. Grave emphasized the importance of hosting such global events, as it allows the West Indies to upgrade their cricket infrastructure and facilities, which can then be utilized for the next decade.
Overall, Grave’s call for the BCCI’s stronger leadership in protecting Test cricket, along with his proposals for more equitable revenue sharing and the distribution of hosting rights, aim to foster a more sustainable and balanced ecosystem for the sport, particularly in regions like the West Indies.
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