Islamabad, Jan 27: Ian Chappell, the former Australian cricket captain, has strongly criticized the power structure within the International Cricket Council (ICC), highlighting how the self-interests of the “Big Three”—India, England, and Australia—are undermining the sport’s integrity. In his commentary for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell expressed concern over the ICC’s focus on commercial interests, leaving smaller cricketing nations struggling to compete at the highest level.
Chappell’s critique centers on the inequitable distribution of revenue, where financially dominant nations receive the majority, while less wealthy boards are left in the lurch. He believes this imbalance is detrimental to the game’s growth, both in terms of competition and governance.
Citing West Indies legend Michael Holding, he stressed that the ICC must be about running the sport, not just managing events. This misalignment has, according to Chappell, contributed to the decline of former cricketing giants like the West Indies, who once captivated audiences worldwide. 
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One of Chappell’s key suggestions is the implementation of a two-tier Test cricket system, designed to sustain the format’s future. He argued that only nations with strong infrastructure, financial stability, and first-class competition should be granted Test status. This would, in his view, prevent newer entrants like Afghanistan and Ireland from being awarded Test status prematurely, as neither meet the criteria needed to compete at this level.
Chappell also expressed concerns about the growing dominance of T20 cricket, noting its influence on both player and board priorities. He warned that while T20 leagues have financial appeal, they threaten the purity of Test cricket. He pointed to recent trends in aggressive shot-making as a sign of how T20 tactics are increasingly seeping into five-day formats, a change that could ultimately erode the essence of the game.
