Clive Lloyd slams ICC's two-tier Test Cricket proposal, calls it a threat to game

The proposal to introduce a two-tier system in Test cricket has sparked a strong reaction from West Indies legend Clive Lloyd, who slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for trying to kill the spirit of the game and undermine the emerging Test-playing nations.

Clive Lloyd believes that the proposed model would undermine the essence of granting Test status to emerging teams, and he is worried that pushing these teams into the lower division would only limit their opportunities to compete at the highest level in red-ball cricket.

West Indies legend Clive Lloyd opposes ICC's plan for two-tier Test Cricket

The former West Indies captain expressed his shock at the idea, emphasizing that Test cricket should remain inclusive, especially with only ten teams playing the traditional format of the game. He noted that T20 cricket is just an exhibition, but Test cricket is a real game.

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Lloyd stressed the need for a system that ensures all teams play Test cricket regularly, rather than sidelining the lower-ranked Test teams in favor of shorter formats of the game. The issue has gained momentum ahead of a crucial meeting between the ICC Chairman Jay Shah, Cricket Australia’s Mike Baird, ECB’s Richard Thompson, and BCCI officials later this month.

They will meet to address the future of Test cricket amidst the growing dominance of T20 leagues. Reacting to the reports, Lloyd voiced his concerns over Test cricket being treated as secondary, saying that red-ball cricket represents the ultimate challenge for players and remains the best format for pure cricket lovers.

I don’t see a two-tier system happening: Clive Lloyd

Clive Lloyd was quoted as saying by IANS: “Well, I don’t see a two-tier system (happening). I am very disturbed about this, and I’m hoping that something is done and that it must be stopped now. We’re not talking about 30 or 40 cricket teams—it’s ten teams. We should be able to have a system where everybody should be playing cricket often.”

The West Indies great added, “Test cricket is still one of the most popular games to play as far as cricket is concerned. But we seem to be putting it to one side, and I don’t think that’s very good at all. We have to have a better system. We have to sit down and work out and not just say T20 is the’ thing. Not everybody wants to watch T20 cricket—we want to watch Test cricket because T20 cricket is an exhibition, while Test cricket is an examination.”

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Clive Lloyd demands better support from the ICC for lower-ranked teams

The former West Indies captain noted that a two-tier system would not allow for the type of cricket that has been played over the years because the lower-ranked teams would be playing in a second tier. He stressed that the teams can only improve by playing against better opposition, saying, “You cannot be playing among yourselves in a lower league and get up there.”.

Lloyd demanded a better system for the lower-ranked teams and more money for the financially weak teams so that they could get the tools to improve. He signed off by saying, “It will be terrible for all those countries that worked so hard to get to Test match status, and now they’ll be playing among themselves in the lower section, with relegation and promotion around it.”