Dehring: Time to rethink bilateral series
.Does not rule out cuts at CWI
Cricket West Indies chief executive officer Chris Dehring says the time has come for regional cricket to confront hard truths about the shrinking relevance of bilateral matches, warning that the game must be “re-engineered” to reflect a changing global market.Speaking on the Mason and Guest programme on the Voice of Barbados on Tuesday, Dehring said the world had shifted dramatically in terms of bilateral cricket and that fans now want more meaning attached to matches.He said One-Day Internationals, and even bilateral Test series, have come under scrutiny, adding that a recent study presented by consulting firm McKinsey to ICC chief executives showed “very alarming” trends in fan engagement. Dehring argued that while cricket’s audience has grown, the format must evolve to match consumer expectations.
“The consumers are saying, ‘hey, we need more context for these One-day Internationals,’” he said. Dehring described such matches as having become “like friendlies.”Dehring said CWI is also exploring opportunities beyond the region, including in Canada, as part of an effort to “think outside the box.” He said the Caribbean’s economic base is too small to extract the revenues needed to thrive in the new era of international cricket, and the board must seek additional streams if it is to stay competitive.
He was particularly blunt about the pressures facing the sport’s broadcast market.He said the television rights market is already flooded and that such rights have been “dramatically impacted, negatively.”Asked about possible cuts at CWI, Dehring stopped short of confirming any immediate action, but did not rule out changes. “I never say never,” he said, adding that leaders must “explore every opportunity and every possibility” when searching for solutions to difficult challenges.
