The former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, has issued a stark warning: if the International Cricket Council (ICC) implements a two-tier structure in the World Test Championship (WTC), the Caribbean side risks languishing in the second division for a century. With the possibility of being boxed out of top-tier contests, Clive Lloyd emphasized the urgent need for the West Indies Cricket Board to assert its legacy and negotiate for a fair shake—financially and competitively—from the global cricket body.
Clive Lloyd’s Verdict
The warning strikes at the heart of a bigger debate—whether global cricket structures are nurturing the game across nations or reinforcing dominance among a select few. For Lloyd, the stakes are clear: if West Indies are shut out of regular contests against stronger teams, the chances of revival diminish, and a proud cricketing culture risks being sidelined for good.
“We have to look at what is happening at the ICC with the shareout of the money. India, Australia and England get 180 million and West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,” Lloyd said.
“To me, it is not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us,”
“We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation where we can be adequately given the money that is needed,” he concluded.
The Shadow of a Two-Tier System
The proposed two-tier WTC would essentially divide cricket into “haves” and “have-nots.” Elite nations would face off regularly, drawing in the lion’s share of revenue, while others including the West Indies would be pushed into a cycle of lower-profile matches. For a region that once ruled Test cricket, this prospect feels both unfair and damaging. Lloyd argued that talent cannot flourish in isolation. Without the challenge of competing against the very best, younger Caribbean players may never reach their full potential.
Imagine a young fast bowler in Jamaica or Trinidad, dreaming of emulating Michael Holding or Curtly Ambrose, but only ever bowling to line-ups outside the top bracket. That pathway would not only stifle individual growth but also erode the West Indies’ ability to rebuild a competitive side.
Memories of an Era of Dominance
The golden era of West Indies cricket, spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s, remains etched in the sport’s history. During that period, the Caribbean team dominated world cricket, beating the strongest opponents with unmatched flair and consistency.
Beyond results, they were a commercial force, drawing large crowds and boosting revenues across continents. Lloyd believes such a legacy should be honoured with inclusion at the top level, not punished with exclusion from marquee contests.
Legacy vs Modern Economics
The frustration also stems from how the game is funded today. During the 1970s and 80s, West Indies matches were marquee events, filling stadiums worldwide and driving television audiences. They were, as Lloyd often recalls, “the team everyone wanted to see.” Yet in the current revenue model, the Caribbean board receives only a fraction of what the “big three” India, Australia, and England take home. For Lloyd, this imbalance compounds the danger of relegation: if the money isn’t there, how can the infrastructure improve, and how can the team return to its former glory?
The irony is sharp. A team that once carried world cricket on its shoulders now faces the risk of being pushed out of the spotlight just when it most needs support.
The Unequal Financial Divide
Another pressing concern Lloyd highlighted is the ICC’s financial distribution model. Powerhouses such as India, Australia, and England reportedly pocket around USD 180 million annually, while the West Indies receive USD 80 million the same as emerging boards like Afghanistan or Bangladesh. For Lloyd, this reflects a lack of fairness, especially when his region historically carried the game’s global expansion.
A Crisis That Sparked Alarm Bells
The urgency of this issue was amplified after the West Indies’ recent collapse against Australia, where they were bundled out for only 27 runs one of the most humiliating innings in cricket history. This debacle prompted Cricket West Indies (CWI) to urgently consult legends, including Lloyd, Brian Lara, and Viv Richards, to help salvage the nation’s cricketing standards.
The Road Ahead
As the ICC weighs its decision, the stakes are immense. Will Test cricket embrace inclusivity, honoring the past while securing the future? Or will financial priorities and short-term interests relegate once-great teams to irrelevance? For Lloyd and millions of Caribbean fans, the answer could shape cricket’s destiny for generations.