The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials will meet on Sunday to discuss the stance of Bangladesh regarding the newly proposed two-tier test system which is set to be opined during the upcoming ICC meeting in Edinburgh at the end of the month.
Bangladesh who are currently placed 9th in ICC Test rankings will be in second-tier if ICC decides to implement the proposed two-tier test system from 2019. Only Zimbabwe are below them among all the test playing nations.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board wants a clear idea whether ICC would be playing the role in Future tours programme under the two-tier system or will it be the same way where the boards are set to negotiate over a bilateral series.
“The pertinent question that has to be asked to the BCB president and CEO is whether the BCB raised any proposals, amendments or suggestions when Shashank Manohar had asked all members to give views on the FTP,” said BCB director Ahmed Sajjadul Alam.
Sajjadul Alam also feels that the two-tier system will impact Bangladesh cricket heavily as the sponsors and broadcasters would get lesser interest in the sport.
“The future of international cricket for Bangladesh is going to be dreadful,” he said. “Already we now have to qualify for ICC events like the 50-over World Cup and World T20. If we don’t qualify for these two ICC events, and at the same time remain a second-tier [Test] side, interest among the public, media, broadcasters and sponsors will be greatly reduced.
“We are facing a huge loss, and we are doing it without even offering a fight. Soon world cricket will go back by several decades to the time when the Imperial Cricket Conference used to run the show, with just six or seven teams playing cricket and teams like Bangladesh waiting on the sidelines for handouts.”
Another BCB director Tanjil Chowdhury who also opposed the Big Three’s proposal two years ago fees that BCB should concentrate more on matches than the revenue streams.
“I think the BCB will take a decision that will best serve Bangladesh cricket,” Chowdhury said. “Two years ago when the Big Three came up with the position paper, the BCB accepted it because they calculated that they would get a greater revenue stream. Why does the BCB need more money? I think they have more than enough. I would want to get as many matches as possible.”
“I am against the two-tier system that is being proposed. I think it will pull cricket development backwards. Inclusiveness doesn’t work at the games’ premium level, which is Test cricket.”
The two-tiered system was first proposed back in January 2014 as part of the Big Three’s proposals. The teams ranked ninth and tenth in Tests would have to play the Intercontinental Cup which also means Bangladesh will have lesser chance to play against the top-eight countries.