Sir Clive Lloyd slams plans to revamp World Test Championship into a two-tier system – as he claims it could be the END of West Indies cricket

Sir Clive Lloyd fears radical plans to make Test cricket a two-tier system will plunge one of the world’s most iconic teams into oblivion.

Under proposals to split the international game’s 12 full member states into two – which will be discussed later this month by ICC chairman Jay Shah and representatives from Australia, India and England – the West Indies would mark their 100th anniversary as a Test team in 2028 celebrate as second-class citizens.

First reported by Australian newspaper The Age, consideration is being given to turning the nine-team World Test Championship into one of two divisions – a 7-5 rework has been mooted – starting in the summer of 2027.

Legendary former West Indies captain Lloyd believes such a move would mean the removal of an international sporting anomaly: the Windies team is selected from fifteen Caribbean countries, and any drop in revenues could push the bigger islands to to do alone.

“You can imagine them talking about dismantling the West Indies teams and playing as their own (islands),” he said.

Lloyd, 80, captained the West Indies when they went unbeaten for 27 Test matches in the 1980s, culminating in a then-record winning streak of 11 in 1984 – six wins against Australia, including five against England.

Lloyd claimed the controversial plans could plunge the West Indies cricket team into oblivion

The plans will be discussed by India, Australia, England and the ICC later this month

But they are now eighth in the Test Rankings and at the bottom of the WTC.

“We were the cash cows for a lot of people over the years,” Lloyd said. ‘We worked hard for what we achieved, and only had five million people. India has a billion and a quarter. Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, they all have more people, but look what we have achieved.

“We have a great history, and now you’re going to tell us that this is how it will be because of the monetary situation.”

This is not the first time a two-tiered Test system has been proposed, but the ‘big three’ England, Australia and India are now keen to maximize television revenues.

Last month’s Boxing Day Test between Australia and India attracted a record attendance of more than 373,000.

Playing each other twice every three years instead of twice every four from 2027, when the next rights cycle begins, would result in revenue spikes from receipts, TV and sponsorship. But the Windies and the other have-nots would continue to play losing games.

“We wouldn’t be able to produce the kind of cricket that we’ve produced over the years,” Lloyd said. ‘You can only improve against better opposition. The better system would be to give all teams the same amount of money so they can improve.’

Under the current cricket model, those who bring in the most money take the largest annual share: India’s £184 million equates to 40 percent, while England comes in second with £33 million.

“When we were on the rise, we ran out of money,” Lloyd added. “Something has to be done to help our cricket and the other countries.”