Yorkshire Test allocation 'feels unfair', says CEO

The chief executive of Yorkshire says he feels the club have been treated unfairly in the ECB's allocation of matches in 2027.

Sanjay Patel told BBC TMS during the current England v Pakistan Test that the club was "disappointed" with its share of international cricket.

Headingley has missed out on an Ashes Test in 2027 and with no India Test during the tour in 2029 either, is the only major English venue not to host a fixture in either of the two stand-out tours.

It will be the fourth time in the past seven Ashes series in England that Headingley has not been on the list, while the ground will only have staged two Tests against India in the past six home series since it was promoted to at least four Tests in 2011.

However, Headingley hosted Ashes Tests in 2019 and 2023, and will do so again in 2031.

England are currently hosting Pakistan in the first of a three-Test series at Headingley, which will also be the venue for an ODI against Sri Lanka in September, while Leeds will play host to a ODI against Pakistan next May, another with New Zealand in September 2027, while England's women will play their only Ashes Test at Leeds in June.

Patel also revealed plans were afoot to secure investment for the redevelopment of Headingley to help ensure the Leeds venue was not overlooked again in future.

Patel said: "We're pretty disappointed with the allocation, we don't feel it's fair in terms of our cricketing history, the scale of the recreational game, the club's finances.

"It's definitely something that we're going to have to navigate as a club the next two or three years.

"We've got to make sure that when the next allocation comes up, we have the plans in place to make sure cricket is played at this ground in a meaningful way, that means we're going to have to raise external investment, have to raise our facilities and almost make sure we get the big Test matches here, because it's really important."

A new system for the allocation of matches was introduced in 2023, moving away from a competitive tender process to a method based on the rotation of the most valuable matches between the host venues on a fair and equitable basis, while also providing long-term certainty for those venues.

Venues for matches between 2025 and 2031 were announced in 2023., external

Patel acknowledged allocating matches was a difficult task but said he felt the balance was not right.

He said: "I think match allocations are always difficult because you're trying to keep a lot of people happy and you probably don't have enough Test matches and other content to go around.

"As long as it's done in a balanced way and a fair way, not just done through a financial lens, it's what's actually important for cricket in England and Wales, then that's OK.

"I'd argue that the current allocation probably doesn't get the balance right. Hopefully, moving forwards, that balance will be addressed through to the next allocations. We'd hope that we would get our fair share of Test cricket."

Patel, who replaced Stephen Vaughan as the club's CEO in 2024, previously said the 2025 Test against India at Headingley produced a profit for the club in excess of £3m, a huge financial windfall.

He added: "I'd like to think that we're in a slightly better position compared to where we were when the allocation got sent out.

"Financially we're very stable, the club is moving forwards in the right way, we've recently announced a 10-year strategy. ECB are aware of that strategy and are very supportive.

"I think we're reasonably well placed for the next allocation."

On the current Test against Pakistan, Patel added: "This is hugely important for our finances.

"The way our business works, we are reliant on men's international cricket. If we don't have a Test match, we will probably lose a million and a half this year, so it's essential we make the most of this match financially.

"But, it's not just about the finances. The Yorkshire public have got a very special affinity with Test cricket.

"It's important for the people of England and Wales that there's a lot of Test cricket being played here at Headingley to inspire the next generation of cricket."

Patel added that plans were being made to redevelop Headingley to help their case for future Test matches.

"We've got to get Headingley to be a world class stadium," he said. "I think all cricket grounds in England need to look at (providing) cover. We're getting more extreme heat, if you're sitting out there all day, it has to be comfortable.

"Things we will definitely look at is how do we make the spectator experience even better than it is now. We've got a full plan to redevelop the ground.

"We are a members club, roughly around 8,000. We want to change it into a private company, then it allows us to bring investment in to redevelop Headingley.

"Hopefully this is by early 2027, there's a lot of work to be done though."