A two-tier system already exists; let’s make it more equitable

Sometimes in sport as in life, you encounter an idea whose time has come. As many have pointed out, there is already a two-tier system: one involving India, the financial behemoths of the game, and the other not involving India. That way, there is no “lower division”, no endless matches among just India, England and Australia and every team has an incentive to do well against the top teams. A decade ago, Australia and England thought it would be a wheeze if they joined India in a Big Three formation that played matches among themselves, took in the biggest share of the money and as a useful insurance, also decided that in a two-tier system, they would not be relegated. When Anurag Thakur was President of the BCCI he was against the two-tier plan, saying “We will continue to have an inclusive approach and ensure that everyone’s interest and the growth of cricket isn’t compromised.” The new chairman of the ICC, Jay Shah, might see things differently — but ultimately the plan will rise or fall by what India decides.