Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has stated five changes to the World Test Championship (WTC). While adding that the mega tournament has added contest and context to Test cricket, he said that these changes would make it even better. However, India registered a 1-0 win in the recent two-match away series against Sri Lanka as well. The second Test ended in a draw after the visitors had registered a huge 165-run win in the first game as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “A two-tier Test system. We manage with only nine Test-playing nations, although there are 12. So include everyone and make two tiers with the 12 teams. Promotion and relegation – make it a real consequence. Maybe have seven teams in the top tier so that you can have six series. The team in seventh place should get relegated. The top team in the second group should get promoted.”
“Every series should consist of at least three matches. That suggestion is being accepted. There is no logic in having two-match series. Ideally, every team should play an equal number of matches. One team says they would play 21 matches, and the other team says they are happy with 14. What’s the logic behind that?” he observed.
READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli
“Why don’t we set a minimum number of overs? There is no problem if the result comes before that, but since there is a three-times difference in the points between a draw and a win, if you are going to lose overs, get into the sixth day. If this format is so close to your heart, give it the respect it deserves. Why is it shortchanged?” Chopra again shared.
However, Aakash Chopra also shared that pink-ball Tests should be played if every series has one and that all teams should take on each other in a WTC cycle.
“Either play with the pink ball or don’t. If pink-ball Tests are played, every series should have one. Every team should play against each other. There shouldn’t be any exception to that because this is an ICC tournament and not a bilateral engagement,” he said.
“Make the WTC final a three-match series. You make it one match, and at a neutral venue, which suits some countries. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa will like it, but we won’t. Why would we like it? They are difficult conditions for us. I haven’t taken England’s name because they don’t reach there in any case,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
