~snip~
Arai Bhai ap kai sath maza aai ga, I was really enjoying my cricket stuff on Facebook for long time but now due to lack of time we have no long discussion and here after reading your cricketing history posts I enjoy good stats and figures because usually peoples are not going deep enough like this.
In every context, breadcrumbs and financial benefits means a bilateral series with the BIG-3.
Because ICC's revenue generation and distribution model is already at its limit (BCCI won't take a cut because they made a compromise on every ICC tournament every year issue), especially the revenue generation so not much scope there. Everything comes down to bilateral so that smaller boards can pay their bills (As every test match is loss making affair unless one of BIG-3 team is playing) but the relegation system came up in existence because of a lopsided fixture in the form of bilateral. Call it the chicken-egg problem.
Because ICC's revenue generation and distribution model is already at its limit (BCCI won't take a cut because they made a compromise on every ICC tournament every year issue), especially the revenue generation so not much scope there. Everything comes down to bilateral so that smaller boards can pay their bills (As every test match is loss making affair unless one of BIG-3 team is playing) but the relegation system came up in existence because of a lopsided fixture in the form of bilateral. Call it the chicken-egg problem.
Well. In that case the BCCI can throw them breadcrumbs in the form of limited overs only bilaterals. But they need to be strict about test format. The presence of weaker teams such as Bangladesh and West Indies is one of the major reasons for the decline of viewership for test cricket. If things doesn't change, then test cricket will simply die out in the long run. Even now, it is mostly the middle aged and elderly fans who keep test cricket alive (exceptions being BGT and Ashes, which seems to have a broader viewership).
Recently discussed 2 group/supposedly relegation process threatens the existing system so it's a tough cookie. BIG-3 needs to find a new way to hand over lollipops to other boards but i am not sure how?
Solution can't be like this; playing 10 t-20 matches with the 2nd grouped teams instead of 5 matches.