PCB to oppose any plan for two-tier Test format

The Pakistan Cricket Board has said it will not support the idea of a two-tier Test structure, if the topic comes up for discussion when the ICC board and chief executives of the member boards meet next month in Johannesburg on October 6-7.

There have been calls in the past to tweak the Test format by introducing a two-tier structure, separating the strong teams from the weak. Teams will battle to avoid relegation to the second tier, as is the practice followed in domestic competitions in India and England. Pakistan are currently ranked No.6 in the ICC Test rankings, above New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

"We have seen no such proposal coming from anyone but even if does come up for discussion during the ICC meetings we will reject it outright," Wasim Bari, the PCB's chief operating officer told PTI. "First of all we don't support having two systems in the FTP calendar and secondly, there is no way anyone can justify putting Pakistan in the second tier."

The ICC, however, hasn't given any strong indications that such a system would actually take shape. In an interview to Cricinfo in May, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Personally, I would not like to see that (two-tier structure) happen. I think we've got an obligation to grow the game properly. Sri Lanka is an attractive team, I think Pakistan is a fantastic team, so why would one want to leave them out? If we can get a spread that is equitable, it would certainly be the position we would want to achieve. There has to be a framework."

These measures, including suggestions of a Test championship, have come about in the wake of Twenty20's phenomenal success, which has compelled experts and the ICC to reform the game's other formats to boost spectator interest.