India have a leadership role in Test cricket: Johnny Graves

Johnny Graves, the CEO of Cricket West Indies (CWI), claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a “leadership role” to play in the survival and growth of Test cricket worldwide. 

Ever since the tenure of former Test skipper Virat Kohli, the BCCI and the Indian players have repeatedly maintained in public statements that Test cricket is the ultimate format. They have walked the talk by continuing to prioritise and incentivise it at both international and domestic levels. 

In fact, most countries outside of India, Australia, and England curtail their Test commitments due to various economic tussles to keep playing the longest format of the game. Out of the 12 full member nations, only nine play the World Test Championship. Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe have not even been part of the championship. 

“India have a leadership role to play," Grave said, as quoted by PTI. 

"They're now the No. 1 board when it comes to power, influence and resources. To date, they've been fantastic in how they've continued to play all three formats of the gam. [With] their commitment to Test cricket. I don't think it has ever been as strong as it is now.”

Graves also remarked on how BCCI has already started influencing key decisions at the International Cricket Council (ICC), including the one regarding cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics game. He commented on how that decision had such a cascading effect on the cricketing world. 

"They're becoming increasingly influential in the key decisions that the ICC makes,” Graves said. 

“The BCCI were hugely supportive in one of the biggest things the ICC have achieved in the last 12 months, which is getting cricket back into the Olympics after a gap of 128 years.

The fact that India came on board and supported that bid was absolutely, in my opinion, crucial for the result that the ICC got, which was the acceptance of cricket into the LA Games.

And we're already seeing from the Associate world, in particular, that being an Olympic sport has a very big impact on them, positively, in terms of how they can get money from the government, get money from the Olympic associations to drive the game at all levels.”

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