ICC working on acceptable model on Test Championships: Lorgat

New Delhi:

The International Cricket Council is working on a model of World Test Championships which is acceptable to all Test-playing countries, its CEO Haroon Lorgat said.

The introduction of World Test Championships in the Future Tours Programme post 2012 has been doing the rounds in the cricketing circles and Lorgat said the ICC will seek acceptance from all countries on the issue.

"Test Championship will give much needed context to all Test matches regardless of the state of the individual series.

The key for us now is to find a workable model that will find favour with all our Test-playing members," Lorgat said.

"The ICC is committed to making sure that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of our great sport. We are always considering ways and means to ensure that Test cricket retains primacy and we are always ready to debate and consider suggestions that are put forward," he added.

Lorgat also feels that rather than being a threat to the other formats, Twenty20 has helped to develop cricket by bringing new fans to the game.

"It's well documented that Twenty20 has introduced many new fans to the game. So rather than a threat it has helped to develop the game. In any case, at international level Twenty20 forms a relatively small part of the overall international cricket fixture list. Apart from the ICC World Twenty20 event, international teams play very few Twenty20s," he told a sports website.

Asked about England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to reduce its domestic limited overs tournament from 50 to 40 overs a side, Lorgat refused to comment terming it an internal matter of the ECB.

"That is a matter for the ECB to decide as they would be best placed to determine what is good for their domestic set-up. In fact, we encourage our members to trial and experiment with different innovations at domestic level in order to improve the game at all levels.

"But at the moment there are no plans to move away from the 50-over format at international level as it is a very successful format. It is popular among players, TV viewers, broadcasters and sponsors and it has developed its own identity and history in the 40 or so years it has been going.

"I was heartened recently by many of the top players coming out in support of the 50-over format. I am confident the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy coming up in South Africa will demonstrate that the 50-over format is still relevant and popular at international level," he said.

Lorgat also said that the ICC always remained vigilant on anti-corruption issues in the backdrop of allegations of betting and match fixing during the Ashes and Pakistan-Sri Lanka series.

"The issue of anti-corruption is always a concern and we are always vigilant about these. As (ICC's ACSU chairman) Lord Condon has acknowledged, it is at an irreducible minimum now.

That is not to say we can be complacent. There will always be this danger and we must always be vigilant."