BCB expresses relief
The international Cricket Council at its meeting of chief executives committee in Dubai on Wednesday decided to withdrew their proposal for two-tier Test structure much to the relief of Bangladesh.
The matter was referred to this meeting for further scrutiny by the ICC board, which discussed the matter first in the organisation’s annual conference at Edinburg in June.According to report of cricket’s leading website ESPN cricinfo the proposal gained support from six countries – Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies while India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe opposed it.
‘There was a significant compromise and it was subsequently decided to withdraw the two-tier proposal,’ a chief executive who attended the meeting told ESPNcricinfo.
According to the proposal, the two-tier system would comprise seven teams in the top tier and five in the bottom, with promotion and relegation between the two based on performance.
Bangladesh Cricket Board, who was the first member to oppose the proposal, felt relieved after the proposal was taken off the table.
‘I am really happy for it. Cricket is not going to face an uncertain future,’ said Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul.
‘You know Bangladesh was protesting it from the beginning. India and Sri Lanka were with us. We were rather confident.
‘We were sure that if that [two-tier system] would be imposed it would not bring anything good to us. ‘
Although ICC was ambiguous about their plan but its chief executive Dave Richardson was content with the outcome of the workshop that was held in order to find the ways to improve quality of bi-lateral cricket.
The workshop also discussed how to increase the interest of all-three formats of the game throughout the world.
‘Encouragingly there is an appetite from the ten
full members for more contexts around all three formats of the game and we have consensus on a range of areas,’ stated an ICC press realse.’
This includes the details of ODI and T20 structures and principles around Test cricket schedules, which include the concept of a Test Champion play off every two years, and the opportunity for more nations to be involved,’ It added.
‘There are some complexities, not least because of scheduling and existing structures, but we envisage the changes being implemented for 2019.
‘Members will now revert to their boards to share the details of the proposed revised structures and principles. Work will continue to develop a clear structure and position for each format over the coming months as the ICC collectively focuses on improving bi-lateral cricket for fans and players in the long run.’
BCCI president Anurag Thakur earlier in the month said he was against the idea of splitting Test cricket into a two-tier structure as he termed the move as ‘fundamentally against the basic purpose and identity of the ICC.’
‘As the governing body of the game, the ICC’s job is to popularise the game and increase its global reach,’ Thakur had said.
‘On the contrary, this system may be good for the top five countries, but apart from that, everyone else will suffer. On the one hand, we say we need to support teams like West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, while on the other, by bringing up something like this, we will cut their legs,’ said the boss of Indian Cricket Board, the richest member of ICC.
-With New Age input
