Bangladesh gets BCCI’s backing on opposition to two-tier Test format

Bangladesh gets BCCI's backing on opposition to two-tier Test format

Bangladesh have received huge boost in their stand against two-tier Test format, as Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) have thrown their backing for the fellow sub-continent nation on the stance. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is said to have proposed an idea of two-tier Test, in which the nations ranked 1 to 7 will be in the top bracket, and from 8 to 12 in the second bracket. The idea behind this structure was to keep the Test cricket alive, and let more and more nations be a part of Test cricket. This move was publicly opposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. ALSO READ: James Sutherland backs proposed two-tier Test, ODI League

Bringing light to the issue, TOI quoted a top BCCI official as saying, “We are in favour of development of world cricket. But a two-tier system in Test cricket will hamper emerging teams. Therefore, we opposed the proposal in the ICC meet.”

The idea behind making Test a two-tier division was to make the format interesting. The Top 7 teams will play each other in the top bracket whereas the teams ranked 8 to 12 will play in the other bracket. Teams that perform well in the second bracket can get promotion at the expense of a team performing poorly in the first bracket.

Bangladesh fear should this system be employed, broadcasters and sponsors won’t be much interested, which will result in a fall of revenue generation. This system has been backed by Australia, with its chief executive James Sutherland suggesting it as the need of the hour.