Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal believes that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will not make any decisions that would prevent the Tigers from playing Test cricket when it comes time to vote on a much-debated proposal to revamp the ICC’s structure. Bangladesh will be greatly affected if the draft proposal formulated by the three so-called Big-3 India, Australia and England over the last six months does not get blocked.
The proposal is expected to face an early vote at the ICC board meeting on January 29.
According to Section 4 of the draft, which addresses the ICC rankings and proposes a system of promotion and relegation, the Test teams ranked 9th and 10th would play in the Intercontinental Cup during the 2015-23 period.
There would be two Intercontinental Cups during this period, one every four years. The winner of the Intercontinental Cup would be entitled to challenge the 8th ranked Test side.
If the Test country is defeated in a two Test at home and two Test away series, then the challenging country that won the Intercontinental Cup would be entitled to play Test cricket against the other seven Test playing countries (subject to the future relegation via the same process and further subject to pre-existing FTP agreements).
‘I am sure the BCB won’t agree [to this proposal],’ Tamim told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
‘I am sure if a country hears that cricket will be taken from them then they won’t agree.’
‘I played cricket in lot of countries, but to me Bangladesh is a cricket-crazy country and there is none to equal to them, whether in India, Pakistan or West Indies or anyone else.’
‘ICC wants to promote cricket, but if there is no cricket then what is the benefit?’
On behalf of the players, Tamim asked the board to consider their stance before making their final decision.
‘We would like to request that this system not get implemented.’
‘The more we play Tests, the better for us.’
‘I cannot make further comments as I am not aware of it. The BCB will decide, but if we cannot play cricket then there can be nothing worse than that,’ he added.
-With New Age input
