KOLKATA – ICC Members have signed off a new Future Tours Programme (FTP)for 2019-2023 that incorporates the introduction of a World TestChampionship and an additional ICC World T20 event in place of theChampions Trophy in 2021.

This provides opportunities for 16 teams to compete at a global level witha sub-regional, regional and global qualification process every two years,giving more regular cricket to more Members.

The final structure of the FTP (19-23), which received unanimous backing,includes the following:

ICC Cricket World Cup – 2019, 2023

ICC World T20 – 2020, 2021

ICC World Test Championship Final – 2021, 2023

World Test Championship

Cycle 1 – 2019-2021

Cycle 2 – 2021-2023

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualification League – 2020-2022

All bilateral Tests, ODIs and T20Is outside of the above competition.

The Board received a presentation around regulations and sanctioning ofevents including domestic T20 leagues and player release.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of T20 leagues seeking Memberand ICC approval and the associated ongoing challenge to ensure the bestplayers are playing international cricket.It was widely agreed that domestic T20 leagues were good for the globalgame but steps need to be taken to ensure international cricket remainedattractive to players.

As such, the Board approved the establishment of a small working group toconsider the issues and make some recommendations for consideration laterin the year.