New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said she has directed state police to elevate security measures to ensure safety of the crowds.. File
| Photo Credit: AP

New York’s Nassau County will have unprecedented security arrangements in place for the T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on June 9 due to the threat of a terror attack here even though state Governor Kathy Hochul insisted that it is not credible “at this time.” The Eisenhower Park Stadium at the Nassau County will host eight matches of the tournament-proper, including India’s three outings. The Indians will also play a practice game against Bangladesh here on June 1.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said she has directed state police to elevate security measures to ensure safety of the crowds.

“In preparation for the World Cup my team has been working with federal & local law enforcement to keep attendees safe. While there is no credible threat at this time, I’ve directed @nyspolice (NYPD) to elevate security measures & we’ll continue to monitor as the event nears,” Ms. Hochul said in a post on X.

A report on CNN said that New York officials are putting safety precautions in place “after terror group ISIS-K made a global threat earlier this year” against the World Cup.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said on May 29 that the event received an ISIS-K-linked threat in April.

“That was followed by more specific threats on the India versus Pakistan game, scheduled for June 9, and references to a viral video circulating online, which calls for ‘that lone wolf to act out’,” the report said.

“I can guarantee you this. This is the largest security we’ve ever had to do in this county’s history, and I can also guarantee you this – the safest place to be in Nassau County on June 9th will be inside that stadium,” Mr. Ryder said in that report.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said described the mega-event, which is likely to draw massive crowds from among the expats, as “Super Bowl on steroids”.

“There will be teams from all over the world coming in. There will be fans from all over the world coming to Nassau County…we have been meeting for well over six months on a regular basis to talk about security concerns and health care concerns, which could potentially arise at any kind of event of this magnitude”. “We take every threat seriously. There are the same procedures for every threat,” Mr. Blakeman said.

Mr. Blakeman also noted the county’s coordinated security efforts with federal partners, including the FBI, and Department of Homeland Security among others.

“To that end, we have taken many, many precautions as well as making sure that the stadium and the surrounding Eisenhower Park are safe,” he said.

The Rohit Sharma-led side will begin its campaign by taking on Ireland on June 5, followed by the high-voltage clash against Pakistan on June 9.

The team will then face hosts USA on June 12.

The terror threat to the event was first revealed by Trinidad’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley and the ICC had responded to it by asserting that a robust security cover is in place to ensure smooth conduct of the event.

“The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.

“We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event,” the ICC had stated.

Major sports tend to run on parallel tracks — one for nation-teams like at the Olympics or World Cups, and the other for club and non-nation competitions. The latter is becoming more popular. Formula One, the fourth most watched sport in the world was ahead of the curve, competition being between cars and mixed teams rather than based on countries ever since its inception in 1950.

Perhaps all sports tend to move towards such mixed teams, aspiring, like the IPL, to rid sport of jingoism and waving of national flags. This is not a planned, thought-out strategy, merely one that has evolved. Playing for the country is still the highest aspiration for many young cricketers, but players are coming through who might be happier if their careers began and ended with the various T20 franchises.

World XIs and all that

Cricket tried to marry the two strains — country-wise competition and the mixed team one — with series like the ‘Rest of the World’ versus England or Australia.

In 1966, the year England won the football World Cup, they also won a cricket ‘world cup’; except that the latter was a 50-over tournament among the West Indies, England and a World XI chosen by the readers of the Radio Times. The team had Bob Simpson, Hanif Mohammed, Graeme Pollock, Colin Bland, Tiger Pataudi, Bapu Nadkarni.

Both England and the West Indies beat the World XI, and then England beat the West Indies in the final at Lord’s. This match might have been officially recognised as the first one-day international; it took nearly another decade for the format to earn such recognition. Two years later, England beat a World XI in a three-day match. This team, chosen by BBC viewers and readers of Radio Times, was to be led by Pataudi, but he fell ill and the captaincy passed to Garry Sobers.

But an idea had taken root, so when the South Africa tour of 1970 was called off following protests against apartheid, a World XI was quickly assembled to play a five-match series originally designated ‘Tests’. The status was later revoked by the International Cricket Council. Sobers scored more runs (588) and took more wickets (21) than anyone else, and World XI won 4-1.

England skipper Ray Illingworth described the World XI as “the best ever side to take the cricket field, stronger than the 1948 Australians, man for man.” Consider the batting order: Barry Richards, Eddie Barlow, Rohan Kanhai, Graeme Pollock, Clive Lloyd, Garry Sobers.

Yet, Mushtaq Mohammed probably summed up the feeling of the players when he said, “After it all finished I was left with a funny feeling because we weren’t playing under a flag. Despite the victories, there wasn’t the ‘feather in the cap’ feeling when I was winning with Pakistan. It had been an honour, but at the same time the inner satisfaction was missing.”

It was a thought echoed by John Benaud following the next ‘World XI’ series in Australia, 1971-72, put together for the same reason, a cancelled tour by South Africa.

“Because we were playing the Rest of the World, and not England or South Africa, there wasn’t a real Test match feeling for me as a player making his debut,” he said. “It didn’t have the sort of effect it would’ve had if I were playing a country.”

Again, the World XI was led by Sobers who again finished the top scorer thanks to an innings of 254 in Melbourne which Don Bradman called the finest seen in Australia. Again it was the World XI who won, 2-1, and again the Test status initially granted the series was withdrawn later. Three Indians played in that team: Bishan Bedi, Farokh Engineer and a young Sunil Gavaskar. Dennis Lillee announced his arrival with eight for 29 which dismissed the World for 59 in an innings defeat.

Kerry Packer’s World Series cricket had a Rest of the World team in it, and in the new century, the ICC decided to have a world champions (Australia) versus the Rest, a ‘Super Test’ in Sydney which Australia won comfortably. Crowds stayed away and the concept was never repeated.

England’s Andrew Flintoff was among those who were opposed to it from the start. “I can’t think of anything worse,” he said, adding, “I’m only here for the food.”

Yet, had Muttiah Muralitharan not played that match, his tally of Test wickets would have fallen short of 800.

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid becomes the first Bangladeshi in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. Photo: X/@BCBtigers

Bangladesh’s Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid on March 28 became the first from his country to be inducted into the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires while India’s Nitin Menon entered the top tier for an unprecedented fifth time.

Indore-based Menon, who joined the elite panel at the start of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, remains the only Indian in the 12-member club.

The 40-year-old is only the third Indian to be part of the elite panel after S Ravi and former India spinner S Venkataraghavan, who performed on-field duties in 33 and 73 Tests respectively.

Menon has been an on-field umpire in 23 Tests, 58 ODIs and 41 T20s (122 overall) and is expected to surpass Venkataraghavan’s overall match tally of officiating in 125 games in the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.

Menon had also realised his dream of officiating in the Ashes last year.

On the other hand, Bangladesh’s Sharfuddoula was elevated from the ICC International Panel of Umpires, replacing the now retired Marais Erasmus.

Sharfuddoula has been on the International Panel since 2006 and his first international appointment was an ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Mirpur in January 2010.

He has been an on-field umpire in 10 Tests, 63 ODIs and 44 T20Is. He has also featured on-field in 13 women’s ODIs and 28 T20Is.

“It is a great honour to be named on the ICC Elite Panel. To be the first from my country on the panel makes it extra special and I look forward to justifying the faith shown in me. I have had a fair bit of experience over the years and am ready for more challenging assignments,” said Sharfuddoula.

Chris Broad excluded from Elite Match Referees’ Panel

The ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees has been reduced from seven members to six, with Chris Broad not included in the panel for 2024-25.

Broad, who had been on the panel since 2003, has refereed 123 Tests, 361 ODIs and 135 T20s, as well as 15 women’s T20s.

A senior ICC official said Broad had been dropped as part of a restructuring process.

“Chris Broad has been dropped as a part of restructuring process and there would be no immediate replacement,” an ICC Board of Director from one of the member nations aware of the developments told PTI.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “Chris Broad has been a valuable member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees over many years and has performed his role with distinction.

“He was prepared to take difficult calls in the best interests of the game and was respected by players and officials from all over the cricketing world. On behalf of the ICC, I would like to thank Chris for his long and distinguished contribution to the game.”

Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees:

David Boon (Australia), Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies), Javagal Srinath (India).

Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires:

Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Michael Gough (England), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies).

The stop clock system, which is currently on trial, will be made a permanent feature of all full-member ODIs and T20Is from the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, the ICC said on March 15.

The ICC had introduced the stop clock rule in December 2023, and now it has been incorporated into the standard playing conditions which will be in vogue from June 1, 2024.

“The stop-clock is set to become permanent in all ODIs and T20Is from June 2024, starting with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA,” the ICC said in a statement after its Annual Board Meeting.

“The trial was supposed to run until April 2024, but the experiment has already yielded results in terms of timely completion of matches, saving approximately 20 minutes per ODI match,” the statement added.

As per the rule, the fielding side will have to start a new over within 60 seconds of the completion of the previous over.

An electronic clock, counting down from 60 to zero, will be displayed on the ground, and the third umpire can determine the start of the clock.

The failure of the fielding side to be ready to bowl the first ball of their next over within the stipulated 60 seconds will attract two warnings, and the subsequent breaches will lead to a five-run penalty per incident.

However, the ICC has also laid out some exceptions to the rule, and the clock, if it has already been started, can be cancelled in such situations.

They include: If a new batter comes to the crease between the overs, during official drinks interval or during the on-field treatment of an injury to a batter or a fielder.

The rule will also not be activated if the time is lost because of circumstances beyond the control of the fielding side.

Reserve day for T20 WC semifinals, final

The ICC meeting has also approved reserve days for the semifinals (June 27) and the final (June 29) of the T20 World Cup.

During the league or Super Eight stages, a minimum of five overs will have to be bowled to the team batting second to constitute a full game.

However, in the knockout matches, a minimum of 10 overs needed to be bowled in the second innings to constitute a match.

The global governing body also approved the qualification process for the T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The tournament will feature 20 teams and will have 12 automatic qualifiers.

The top eight teams in the 2024 World Cup will join India and Sri Lanka as automatic qualifiers, with the remaining spots taken up by the next best-ranked sides in the ICC T20I rankings as of June 30, 2024.

The remaining eight positions will be filled through the ICC Regional Qualifiers.

A file photo of Sudanese family who fled the conflict in Murnei in Sudan’s Darfur region. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Britain has circulated a draft United Nations (UN) resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in conflict-wracked Sudan ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins soon.

The draft, obtained on Wednesday (March 6) by The Associated Press, expresses “grave concern over the spreading violence and the catastrophic and deteriorating humanitarian situation, including crisis levels of acute food insecurity, particularly in Darfur.” With Ramadan expected to begin around Sunday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, the council is expected to vote quickly on the resolution, likely on Friday.

Sudan plunged into chaos last April, when long-simmering tensions between its military led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo broke out into street battles in the capital, Khartoum.

Fighting spread to other parts of the country, especially urban areas, but in Sudan’s western Darfur region it took on a different form, with brutal attacks by the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces on ethnic African civilians. Thousands of people have been killed.

Two decades ago, Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias against populations that identify as Central or East African.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan said in late January there are grounds to believe both sides in the current conflict are committing possible war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in Darfur.

Meanwhile, France’s UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said, “It would be a disgrace if we have a Ramadan truce in Sudan and no Ramadan truce in Gaza. We need both,” he said.

The United States vetoed a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza on February 20 that was supported by almost the entire 15-member Security Council.

The U.S. is negotiating on its own proposed Gaza resolution, with the latest draft calling for a cease-fire “of roughly six weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages” as soon as Israel and Hamas agree. The draft makes no mention of Ramadan.

The latest draft on a Sudan cease-fire was circulated on the same day the head of the UN food agency warned that the Sudan conflict “risks triggering the world’s largest hunger crisis” as global attention is focussed on the Israel-Hamas war.

Cindy McCain, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the conflict in Sudan has shattered the lives of millions and called for the warring parties to stop fighting and allow humanitarian agencies to provide life-saving assistance.

“According to that UN agency, 18 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger, with the most desperate trapped behind the front lines. They include five million who face starvation,” it said.

The proposed UN resolution calls on all parties to remove obstructions and allow “full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access” including across Sudan’s borders and across conflict lines.

The draft also urges strengthened coordination of several regional and international efforts “to facilitate an end to the conflict and to restore a lasting inclusive civilian-led democratic transition.”

UN experts said in a report obtained by AP on March 1 that fighters for the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias carried out widespread ethnic killings and rapes while taking control of much of Darfur that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The report to the Security Council painted a horrifying picture of the brutality of the Arab-dominated RSF against Africans in Darfur. It also detailed how the force succeeded in gaining control of four out of Darfur’s five states, including through complex financial networks that involve dozens of companies.

It took an apocalyptic dust storm and a freak bout of rain for Australia to get its World Cup campaign back on track with a five-wicket win against Sri Lanka at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

While it wasn’t exactly the statement win the Aussies were looking for after two successive defeats, the return of Mitchell Marsh (52, 51b, 9×4) to his characteristic best and Adam Zampa (four for 47) to his wicket-taking form were positives they would settle for.

Maxwell also found his mojo with an unbeaten 21-ball 31 as Australia rushed to the target in 35.2 overs.

After David Warner and Steve Smith were trapped by Dilshan Madushanka in the same over, Marsh and Labuschagne steadied the ship with a 57-run stand. Marsh was aggressive against pace and spin as Australia ransacked 64 runs in the first PowerPlay — 45 of them coming off the opener’s blade.

While Labuschagne picked the gaps and rotated the strike, Josh Inglis (58, 59b, 5×4, 1×6) took on the role of the aggressor after Marsh was run out. The wicketkeeper-batter punished the short stuff on his way to a 46-ball half-century. Both Labuschagne and Inglis couldn’t take Australia home but their knocks were enough to close the door on Sri Lanka.

Earlier, after being asked to bowl, Australia’s desperation was in plain sight as Mitchell Starc frittered away a review off the first ball and issued a stern warning in the same over to Kusal Perera for backing up too far. Barring Labuschagne’s spilt catch to reprieve Pathum Nissanka on 43, those two instances were as close as Australia came to picking a wicket in the first 21 overs.

Nissanka and Perera had blunted the pace trio of Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins during a 125-run opening stand before Warner’s brilliance in the field gave Australia its first success as Nissanka miscued a short ball from Cummins.

After Nissanka fell, Perera showcased his ability to read lengths quickly by pulling Hazlewood behind square-leg and then in front of it for consecutive fours. Cummins had his second scalp when he hit the perfect length and moved the ball into Perera.

Captain Kusal Mendis was the second victim of Warner’s acrobatics, prompting the day’s loudest cheer from a sparse crowd. Zampa, who had been flayed for 22 runs in his first three overs, redeemed himself with that dismissal.

The leg-spinner hastened the collapse with three more wickets, trapping right-handers in front with his googlies. Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 52 runs and its capitulation almost matched the drama of an aberrant 30-minute spell of rain and winds that picked apart the tournament branding at the venue.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka c Warner b Cummins 61 (67b, 8×4), Kusal Perera b Cummins 78 (82b, 12×4), Kusal Mendis c Warner b Zampa 9 (13b), Sadeera Samarawickrama lbw b Zampa 8 (8b, 1×4), Charith Asalanka c Labuschagne b Maxwell 25 (39b, 1×6), Dhananjaya de Silva b Starc 7 (13b, 1×4), Dunith Wellalage run out 2 (9b), Chamika Karunaratne lbw b Zampa 2 (11b), Maheesh Theekshana lbw b Zampa 0 (5b), Lahiru Kumara b Starc 4 (8b, 1×4), Dilshan Madushanka (not out) 0 (6b); Extras (b-2, lb-2, w-9): 13; Total (in 43.3 overs): 209.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-125 (Nissanka, 21.4 overs), 2-157 (Perera, 26.2), 3-165 (Mendis, 27.6), 4-166 (Samarawickrama, 29.1), 5-178 (Dhananjaya, 32.3), 6-184 (Wellalage, 34.5), 7-196 (Karunaratne, 37.6), 8-199 (Theekshana, 39.2), 9-204 (Kumara, 40.5).

AUSTRALIA BOWLING: Starc 10-0-43-2, Hazlewood 7-1-36-0, Cummins 7-0-32-2, Maxwell 9.3-0-36-1, Zampa 8-1-47-4, Stoinis 2-0-11-0.

AUSTRALIA: Mitchell Marsh run out 52 (51b, 9×4), David Warner lbw b Madushanka 11 (6b, 1×6), Steve Smith lbw b Madushanka 0 (5b), Marnus Labuschagne c Karunaratne b Madushanka 40 (60b, 2×4), Josh Inglis c Theekshana b Wellalage 58 (59b, 5×4, 1×6), Glenn Maxwell (not out) 31 (21b, 4×4, 2×6), Marcus Stoinis (not out) 20 (10b, 2×4, 1×6); Extras (w-3): 3; Total (for five wkts. in 35.2 overs): 215.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-24 (Warner, 3.1), 2-24 (Smith, 3.6), 3-81 (Marsh, 14.3), 4-158 (Labuschagne, 28.5), 5-192 (Inglis, 33.1).

SRI LANKA BOWLING: Kumara 4-0-47-0, Madushanka 9-2-38-3, Theekshana 7-0-49-0, Wellalage 9.2-0-53-1, Karunaratne 3-0-15-0, Dhananjaya 3-0-13-0.

Toss: Sri Lanka; PoM: Zampa.

Australia won by five wickets with 14.4 overs to spare.

For the average cricket fan, the news that the sport will be featured at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 is welcome, even inspiring. Modern players from Steve Smith and Trent Boult to Ravichandran Ashwin and Shubhman Gill have said they are all for it. An Olympic gold is the most coveted honour in international sport even if world championships are sometimes seen to be on a plane of their own.

But administrators seldom think like the average fan – their pulls and pressures are different.

For long the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was opposed to Olympics participation for a variety of reasons, as were the players themselves. The International Cricket Council (ICC) was not too keen either, seeing the quadrennial event cutting into their already crowded calendar.

Unique and independent

The BCCI was unhappy to be dealing with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and coming under its remit which included following the rules under which the national sports federations function. Cricket’s governing body sees itself as unique and independent, raising its own funds without any recourse to handouts from the government.

It is comfortable in the knowledge that cricket is the most popular sport in the country with more sponsors, keener battles over television rights and in effect control over the international game. The BCCI made it clear that the cricket team would participate only if there was no interference from the IOA.

The players were unhappy about the random dope testing which the World Ant-Doping Agency might subject them to. The argument was one of privacy being breached if the players were forced to inform the anti-doping agencies, either national or the world body, about their whereabouts.

A few months ago, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said, “Once cricket is added in the Olympics, India will be participating,” adding, “The BCCI and the ICC are on the same page as far as participation in the Olympics is concerned.” This is good news for the globalisation of a sport too few countries play at the highest level.

Commercial bonanza

The International Olympic Committee is fully aware of the draw cricket has for the Asian countries, especially in the subcontinent. Its motivation is as much sporting as commercial. The Guardian newspaper has calculated that the current Olympic broadcast rights in India worth around $20 million (for the Paris Olympics in 2024) would rise to ten times that figure with cricket added.

For lesser cricketing countries whose coffers aren’t overflowing, the Olympics will come as a boon because of the support they would receive from their governments, and from the IOC itself.

Cricket was last played at the Olympics in its second edition in 1900. One match was played where England beat France for the gold medal. The T20 format, so successful at the Asian Games, is most likely to be used at the Olympics (men and women).

England, another country initially reluctant to field a team at the Olympics, might push for the Hundred format which is played in that country. The lack of an international competition and rankings in the Hundred or the T10 might give the nod to T20 which has a World Cup.

No dilution

And that could be an issue too, for the ICC might not want their own World Cups to be diluted or replaced by the Olympics as the top tournament in the sport. Perhaps it could do what FIFA, the governing body of football did, setting the age limit at 23 and allowing only three players older in a team.

The call to have cricket at LA will be officially ratified at the 141st IOC session which begins on Sunday. That it will be held in Mumbai might be indication that ratification is a mere formality. Especially now that the BCCI is on board.

Cricket’s re-entry into the Olympics is fitting for the second most popular sport in the world behind football, and with a fan base of nearly three billion people.

By the 2028 Olympics, Rohit Sharma would have turned 40, Virat Kohli would be heading there and K.L. Rahul would have blown out 36 candles on his large birthday cake. Shubhman Gill will still be only 29. Five years is not such a long time to wait, after all.

Yesterday it was the West Indies. Today it is South Africa, tomorrow it could be New Zealand or anybody else. The Big Three, India, Australia, England, look safe for the moment, but how often can they play five-day Tests and five-Test series against one another till television executives decide enough is enough?

Cricket is being attacked from so many directions that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the good guys from the bad. Maybe that is because the bad guys seen from a different angle look like good guys. Are the good guys those who still believe Tests need to be focused on, or simply those who think that for cricket in any format to survive, greater attention should be paid to the grassroots? And since that requires money and the best way for a cricket board to make it in significant amounts is to concentrate on franchise T20 cricket, then is that the direction to take?

Beholden to India

The International Cricket Council, traditionally a governing body at the beck and call of the powerful teams — in the days leading up to the end of the veto power enjoyed by England and Australia, it was these two — is now beholden to India, now the sole super power in the game with its enormous television audiences, huge bank balance and rich tournaments like the IPL. The ICC can do little about the decline of Test cricket, or indeed cricket itself across its member-countries.

The fear that the ICC will soon abdicate its responsibility to owners of T20 franchises around the world, especially those from India who own teams in three or four countries is very real. Pushed into a corner with diminishing public interest and weakening finances, South Africa have already shown they realise which side their bread is buttered on. They hope their domestic T20 tournament, the SA20 — with six teams, all owned by IPL franchises from India — will solve both these issues. SA20 turned a profit in its opening year last season.

Compromise

But this involves a compromise. The by-product is the likely decision to send a second or third string team to New Zealand for a two-Test series in February next year. Those who will make the team are not nearly as significant as those who won’t: Skipper Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen and other top players involved with the SA20 will be missing as things stand.

South Africa, often the No. 1 Test-playing country in the past, will be playing only two-Test series in the current World Test Championship cycle, till 2025. “It’s tough to take,” says Dean Elgar, former captain, speaking of South Africa’s changed priorities, which hints at cricket’s changed priorities to come.

If franchise cricket is set to take over the game, it might already be carrying the seeds of its own demise — too much of it, across too many time zones, involving the same players and same owners might be a threat.

Already it is becoming difficult for the average fan to tell one tournament from the other, to follow the same players doing the same things day after day, and to remember everything when a good percentage of games is quite forgettable.

Losing interest in other formats

But that might be for the future. And by then it could be too late. In the meantime, interest in the other formats might have been sucked dry. Often success, if not handled well, leads to its own destruction.

The national and international governing bodies of the game have at least a theoretical interest in keeping the formats alive, in looking after the grassroots, and in keeping the bigger picture in sight. Private owners, with their obsession with the bottom line to the exclusion of most other things cannot be expected to run the game the same way.

In a decade or two, cricket will be unrecognisable from the sport it is today, when it is in transition. Cricket South Africa (CSA) might have shown the way for other cricket boards who pay lip service to Test cricket but are happy to ignore it if the other formats generate more money. In fact, the CSA might have knocked out the hypocrisy inherent in cricket administration.