Bangladesh will not be awarded 'Test status', the privilege to play the game at the highest level, unless it meets certain criteria. This was disclosed by Sir Clyde Walcott, chairman of the Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while talking to The Daily Star during the first semi-final of the Wills International Cup between South Africa and Sri Lanka on Friday.
When prodded about the many assurances so far given by representatives of the game's world governing body that Bangladesh would get the Test status within the next two years or so, the former West Indies cricketer said, ``I am not aware of that. I know that they are working towards improving the criteria set for all the associates to reach in order to become a Test playing country. And we have not given any specific time.''
About the time limit, Sir Walcott said, ``I don't know. It depends on whether they meet the criteria which has been set. There are several criteria; playing three or four-day cricket is one, the government has the game among the young people and the approach to play better cricket generally''.
``All I would say is that the facility here at the Bangabandhu Stadium is good. I have not seen any other facility. But I think once you work with young players, young cricketers in the schools with the very high population you have, and get the game interested among the youngsters, then I think you can get closer to the Test status,'' opined Sir Walcott.
``The response from the people to cricket as I have seen for the first time coming here in Dhaka is extremely good. The interest is high. The crowd is very disciplined and knowledgeable. I am only surprised that the standard of cricket in Bangladesh isn't higher than it is,'' added Sir Clyde.
When asked about the present picture of the game with the two versions, the bespectacled hero of yesteryears said, ``Cricket has changed. There is, for example, the limited-over game which is completely different from the Test cricket. And that has changed the whole approach to cricket. So there has been a big change in cricket over the years.''
``You have to keep faith in what's going on in the world. Everything is changing and I have no problem with that. The game has become more professional, more commercialised. And that is what we have to accept today,'' he continued.
About the dwindling standard of Caribbean cricket, Sir Walcott said, ``West Indies has been reeling in the eighties and the nineties; probably for about sixteen years. You can't continue to win for life. The other countries are improving. And we had such a talented side, that it is difficult to maintain a standard throughout. So I think West Indies can still compete but they may not be champions. They should go on and develop new players and hopefully they become better again.''
Finally, Sir Walcott praised the West Indies captain Brian Lara saying, ``I think he is a very knowledgeable individual in cricket and he should do very well as captain.