Bangladesh’s Test Cricket future now on India’s hand
Jun 3, 2016 at 11:57 PM
The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Dave Richardson revealed that they are mulling to introduce two-tier Test league system by 2019 in a bid to spice up the standard of the longest format of the game.
“There’s a general realisation now that, if we’re going to keep Test cricket going well into the future, we can’t just say it’s going to survive on its own,” Richardson was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.com on Thursday.
“Unless we can give some meaning to these series beyond the rankings and a trophy, then interest in Test cricket will continue to waiver. The same applies if we allow uncompetitive Test cricket to take place too often.”
“If we really want Test cricket to survive, we can’t have the number of Test teams diminishing. We have to create a proper competition structure which provides promotion and relegation and opportunities to get to the top,” he added.
The league is the latest attempt by ICC to revive the format following the introduction of day-night match last year in Australia
“Everyone wants to play Test cricket so we need to find a structure that caters to that. That could mean two groups or two divisions,” Richardson added.
“We are looking to introduce a proper league system which will grow interested and make every series more relevant. Realistically, with tours and broadcast agreements in place, we’re perhaps looking at 2019 for it to begin.”
If the two-tier league system for Test cricket becomes a reality, Bangladesh, alongside two low ranked Test team Zimbabwe and West Indies, will be on the verge of relegation to the second division. Bangladesh has played their first Test in 2001 against India but they failed to develop themselves as a good Test playing nation in the world. They have never won a big match against a big team. Their series victory against West Indies in the Caribbean came when the best cricketers of West Indies boycotted WICB.
Being dropped to the second division of Test cricket will certainly be a major setback for Bangladesh cricket. But all the Test playing nations have welcomed the decision. Now it will be tough of BCB to avoid the relegation.
However, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury was reluctant to make a comment on this issue just yet, “Such proposals came into place even in the past. And now to is it on the discussion table only. So we had better leave the topic for the time being.”
But another BCB high-up, desiring his name not to be mentioned, said: “Zimbabwe and the West Indies don’t seem to be much bothered about this. On the contrary, two associate nations are on their feet for the opportunity. So if there goes a voting in ICC meeting, Bangladesh may not get enough support.”
But it was understood that BCB instead of trying to convince Zimbabwe and West Indies to veto the proposal, is trying to convince BCCI to save them from relegation.
It is understood that the Indian board the most powerful in the world- can now help Bangladesh to get rid of relegation. So Bangladesh’s Test future currently lies in the hand of India.