Agency :
International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay believes the increasing amount of domestic T20 leagues are squeezing bilateral series’ and Test cricket.
Barclay also warned about the volume of Test cricket in coming years due to the emergence of domestic franchise leagues.
“There is a men’s and women’s event every year and the growth of domestic leagues are forcing things from the bottom and what is getting squeezed is bilateral cricket and so we are trying to fit everything in,” Barclay told BBC’s Test Match Special during the ongoing first game of the three-match series between England and New Zealand at Lord’s.
“There will be some unfortunate consequences from a playing experience and a revenue point of view for some of those countries who won’t get the amount of cricket they might hope to have and they won’t get exposure, particularly against India and to a lesser extent Australia and England. So we will see a squeeze.
“In 10-15 years time I still see Test cricket being an integral part (of the game), it may be that there is less of it,” he added.
Barclay also said women’s Test matches should be played over five days, but raised doubts over the place of the longer format in the future of women’s cricket.
“Most people would say five days are required. If they are going play it, my personal view is they should have five days to play it in” he added.
Barclay was appointed as ICC chair in November 2020 and will complete his two-year term in December this year.
