ICC ponders Champions Trophy dates

The International Cricket Council board began a two-day meeting today during which the dates for next year’s Champions Trophy could be confirmed.

The tournament - scheduled to take place in Pakistan last month - was postponed due to security concerns, but the ICC board will use its quarterly meeting in Dubai to discuss how to fit it into next year’s calendar.

ICC chairman David Morgan, vice-president Sharad Pawar and chief executive Haroon Lorgat - along with the chairmen or presidents of the 10 full members, three associate member representatives and ICC principal advisor IS Bindra - will also discuss the possibility of changing the Future Tours Programme.

They will consider the prospect of an enhanced Test championship aimed at ensuring the longer form of the game remains the “pinnacle of the sport” despite the advent of lucrative Twenty20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League.

The board will also hear a report on the umpire decision referral system employed in the Sri Lanka-India Test series earlier this year, and may nominate four further series for trials over the next six months.