The World Cricketers Association (WCA), previously known as FICA, has initiated an unprecedented examination of the sport’s schedule, which they describe as “broken and unsustainable.” The organization aims to propose a resolution that will enable international cricket and domestic leagues to “co-exist in a clear, coherent calendar for all.”
The review panel consists of six members, including Tom Harrison, the former chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Sana Mir, the former captain of the Pakistan women’s team.The panel will collaborate with independent consultants to conduct the review.
To gather comprehensive insights, the panel will engage in discussions with various stakeholders, including players, administrators, team owners and broadcasters. Upon completion of the review, they will submit their recommendations to the WCA board for consideration.
“The current model is broken and unsustainable,” a WCA statement on Monday said, as quoted by AFP.
“Confusing and chaotic global scheduling with no clarity on the interplay between international cricket and the domestic leagues means players are increasingly forced to choose between representing their country and optimising their careers.”
“Change is badly needed to create ongoing clarity, and value, for players, boards and fans alike.”
WCA chair Heath Mills added: “We are fortunate that cricket is spoilt for choice and has three core formats across both the international game and domestic leagues.
“To date, the game’s leadership has collectively failed to come together to establish a clear and coherent global structure in which they can co-exist. We have virtually given up hope of it doing so.”
The Professional Cricketers’ Association conducted a study in May, revealing that a significant majority of players, 81 per cent to be precise, were worried about the physical strain caused by the domestic cricket schedule. The players felt that the current fixture list did not allow for adequate rest and recovery periods.
In an effort to address these concerns, the ECB carried out a high-performance review in 2022, which suggested reducing the number of domestic cricket matches. However, the English county teams did not accept the proposed changes, leaving the issue unresolved.
The review panel consists of six members, including Tom Harrison, the former chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Sana Mir, the former captain of the Pakistan women’s team.The panel will collaborate with independent consultants to conduct the review.
To gather comprehensive insights, the panel will engage in discussions with various stakeholders, including players, administrators, team owners and broadcasters. Upon completion of the review, they will submit their recommendations to the WCA board for consideration.
“The current model is broken and unsustainable,” a WCA statement on Monday said, as quoted by AFP.
“Confusing and chaotic global scheduling with no clarity on the interplay between international cricket and the domestic leagues means players are increasingly forced to choose between representing their country and optimising their careers.”
“Change is badly needed to create ongoing clarity, and value, for players, boards and fans alike.”
WCA chair Heath Mills added: “We are fortunate that cricket is spoilt for choice and has three core formats across both the international game and domestic leagues.
“To date, the game’s leadership has collectively failed to come together to establish a clear and coherent global structure in which they can co-exist. We have virtually given up hope of it doing so.”
The Professional Cricketers’ Association conducted a study in May, revealing that a significant majority of players, 81 per cent to be precise, were worried about the physical strain caused by the domestic cricket schedule. The players felt that the current fixture list did not allow for adequate rest and recovery periods.
In an effort to address these concerns, the ECB carried out a high-performance review in 2022, which suggested reducing the number of domestic cricket matches. However, the English county teams did not accept the proposed changes, leaving the issue unresolved.
