University matches are set to lose First Class status and rightly so. Such an honour should be reserved for competitive matches as well as some tour and A Team etc games. To have university matches hold First Class status compromises the integrity of professional cricket.
Don’t get me wrong, the university system has a part to play in the development of our cricketers and more should be done to put a competition in place…
https://sillypointcricket.com/2016/12/10/university-challenge/
… just like more could be done for those that don’t attend university.
Yes it’s a thrill for those involved to be able to look at their Cricinfo profile page in years to come but it’s without merit, untidy and illogical. This is a welcome move by cricket’s hierarchy though if history is anything to go by then they’ll probably flip it again in a few years!