Decision would be a blow for Bangladesh
The International Cricket Council will consider a proposal of two-tier system in Test cricket at its executive board meeting this month, said a Cricinfo report, sending a cold wave at the Bangladesh Cricket Board headquarters. If accepted, this will be a telling blow for Bangladesh, who are all but certain to get a place in second tier alongside Zimbabwe and few other low-ranked teams like New Zealand and West Indies.
The two-tier system will also open the door for Test cricket for Ireland and Afghanistan, the top two ICC associate members at the moment.
Cricket organisers said this will mean Bangladesh will be denied a chance of facing quality teams in longer-version at a time when they need it most.
The Tigers have started showing significant improvement in Test cricket, drawing three Test matches against Sri Lanka and New Zealand last year. They also won a Test match in 2013, which was easily their best year in five-day format.
This can also hit the BCB hard revenue-wise, said the organisers, as it will be difficult to find a broadcaster for a series against a low-ranked side.
The ICC’s move to bring back the two-tier Test proposal is also related to broadcasting as it failed to attract a suitable broadcaster for a proposed Test championship.
Mahbub Anam, a BCB director familiar with two-tier proposal, said there is little room for the ICC to link it with the Test championship.
Anam led the BCB campaign in 2008 when the ICC discussed a similar proposal.
‘I don’t know what the ICC is exactly planning to do because I don’t represent the BCB at the ICC now,’ said Anam. ‘All I can say, this proposal has no business with Test championship.’
Asked about this proposal, BCB acting BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury said he has no idea about the proposal.
‘We are yet to receive the details of the ICC meeting, so we should not make any comment at this stage,’ said.
Chowdhury will attend the ICC meeting of the CEOs in January 25-26 before the ICC executive board’s meeting on January 28 and 29.
Bangladesh will have a busy time in both the meetings as they will discuss the fate of the ICC World Twenty20, 2014.
-With New Age input
