Former West Indies Captain Clive Lloyd Warns of Extended Stagnation Period Due to Two-Tier WTC System

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-12 13:52:28 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 07:43:58

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Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has expressed concern about the proposed two-tier system for the ICC World Test Championship, fearing it could leave the West Indies stuck in the second tier for "100 years."

Clive Lloyd, who led the West Indies to victory in the inaugural World Cup in 1975, expressed his reservations about the ICC's proposed reform to the Test championship structure, which is set to take effect in 2023. The proposed system would see the top three teams from the 2019-2021 WTC cycle and the top three from the 2023-2027 cycle compete in the premier league, known as the Memorial Trophy. The remaining bottom four teams would compete for the World Test Championship Trophy.

Speaking on the Impact Cricketers show on YouTube, Lloyd expressed his fears that the proposed set-up could condemn the West Indies to the second tier of the WTC for decades to come. "I hope it doesn't stay that way for too long, because if you're in the lower division, how do you get out of it? It could stay there for 100 years, really."

Through the proposed structure, Lloyd argues, a division between the elite and the inferior is perpetuated, posing the question of whether cricket risks having a divided game behind the purported intention of the reform to make bilateral series more meaningful.

The former skipper's statement echoes doubts voiced by other former cricketers, such as Michael Holding and Ricky Ponting.

As discussions over the future of Test cricket continue, Lloyd's comments serve as a reminder of the importance of a balanced structure that promotes competitiveness and reflects the traditions and values of the sport.

Stay tuned as we bring you further updates on the ICC's proposed restructuring and its reception across the cricketing world.

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