BCCI Opposes ICC's 'Two-Tier' Test Proposal, Finds Sri Lanka's Support

The long-standing bonhomie between sub-continental cricket boards again came to the fore as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) acknowledged the much needed support from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has vehemently opposed the proposed 'two-Tier' Test system by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

BCCi president Anurag Thakur had told a newspaper smaller nations would lose out on revenue and the chance to compete against the top teams if the Shashank Manohar-led ICC's two-tier Test system was implemented.

"The BCCI is against the two-tier Test system because the smaller countries will lose out and the BCCI wants to take care of them. It is necessary to protect their interests," The New Indian Express, a Chennai-based daily, quoted him as saying.

"In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams. We don't want that to happen.

"We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all the countries."

SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said: "Sri Lanka has already made very clear its opposition to two-tier Test proposal of ICC as it's detrimental for lower ranked countries in many ways. Sri Lanka Cricket believes that two tier system would adversely affect the revenues of lower ranked nations, competitiveness of their international competitions, spectator interest, long term growth in already established markets.

"Now BCCI has also come up in support of Sri Lanka Cricket on this matter as they understand the adverse effect on the lower ranked countries due to the proposed two-tier system. We thank BCCI and its President for supporting our viewpoint in opposing two-tier Test system, which will be detrimental for lower ranked countries in number of ways."

President of Sri Lanka Cricket also appreciated the leadership position taken by BCCI president Anurag Thakur to protect the interests of lower ranked countries.

Thakur has already made it clear that BCCI, in principle, is against the idea of two-tier system which it think will be deterrent for the lower-ranked nations.

"As the governing body of the game, the ICC's job is to popularise the game and increase its global reach. On the contrary, this system may be good for the top five countries, but apart from that, everyone else will suffer. On one hand, we say we need to support teams like West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, while on the other, by bringing up something like this, we will cut their legs," Thakur was recently quoted as saying by 'ESPN Cricinfo'.