ICC announces its new FTP including Test Championship
The ICC has announced its Future Tours Programme (FTP) which includes the World Test Championship and a 13-team ODI League. The Test Championship will include top nine teams, which would compete for the title. Each team will play three home and three away series over the span of two 2-year cycles. The first cycle will begin in 2019.
ICC's Future Tours Programme runs from 2018-2023
The 2019 cycle of Test Championship will run till June 2021 and the final is likely to be held at the Lord's. The new FTP will not bring in any changes to the historic Ashes series between Australia and England. In the first leg of Ashes, Australia would tour England in 2018 and the return series is likely to be played in 2021-22.
FTP also includes 13-team ODI league
The 13-team ODI league will see the inclusion of the Netherlands along with the 12 Test playing nations. Every ODI series is limited to a three-match tournament and will start from 2020 and run up to 2022. However, in the year preceding to the World Cup, the ODI League will be suspended and the teams can play more than 3-match tournaments.
India to host newly promoted Netherlands
Top 7 teams in the ODI league plus hosts India will gain an automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup. The rest of the teams will have to battle it out through the qualifiers for the remaining spots. India are scheduled to host newly-promoted ODI side Netherlands for a three-match series at home in 2021-22.
