India vs Afghanistan Test Series To Be Added To WTC Schedule? ICC To Take Drastic Step

Jay Shah and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]In a major development, there could soon be important changes in the World Test Championship. Interestingly, these changes are expected to benefit many teams and make Test cricket more exciting and meaningful.To begin with, the WTC was introduced in 2019 to give more importance and context to Test cricket. Before that, Test matches were often seen as standalone games without much long-term impact. However, with the introduction of the WTC, teams now compete for the prestigious Test Mace. The first championship started on 1 August 2019 and included nine teams, which played a total of 61 matches over two years.ICC to consider allowing one-off TestsMeanwhile, according to ESPN reports, cricket officials are now considering allowing one-off Test matches to be included in the next WTC cycle. In addition, they are also planning to expand the tournament from 9 teams to 12 teams.An ICC working group, led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose, is expected to present these ideas in an upcoming ICC meeting, likely later this month or in early May.Also Read: Jay Shah's ICC To Take Biggest Call On WTC Future, Olympics FutureEarlier, Twose and his team were given the responsibility to improve cricket’s competition structure. This was necessary because international cricket has been facing scheduling challenges due to the three formats of the game and the increasing number of franchise leagues. Notably, the group had earlier suggested a two-division WTC model, but that idea was rejected by several cricket boards.ICC looking to expanding WTCNow, instead of that plan, the group is focusing on expanding the Test championship to include Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland. Although these teams are Full Members of the ICC, they were not part of the WTC when it began in 2019. While they do play Test cricket, they have had limited chances to compete against the top nine teams.Moreover, the group is also recommending that one-off Test matches should count towards WTC points. This idea is important because it can make it financially easier for bigger teams to host smaller teams. At present, a World Test Championship series must include at least two Test matches, which can sometimes lead to financial losses for bigger cricket boards.As a result, allowing one-off Tests could solve this problem. For example, teams like Zimbabwe could play a single Test match against another team while traveling for a tour. Similarly, England could include a one-off Test during a busy home season without much difficulty.ICC need to consider factors However, the ICC will need to carefully consider two key factors. First, whether one-off Tests should officially be part of the World Test Championship, and second, whether it is financially practical for smaller teams to play more Test cricket over a two-year period.Finally, it is worth noting that India and Afghanistan are scheduled to play a one-off Test match from June 6 to 10, 2026, in New Chandigarh. However, this match will not be part of the current WTC 2025–27 cycle. Instead, any new changes, including the inclusion of such matches, are expected to be implemented in the next WTC cycle.Also Read: Josh Hazlewood Back, Jacob Duffy Out? RCB's Strongest XI For IPL 2026 Match 16 Vs RR