The International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively considering Bangladesh as the tenth country for the proposed World Test championship. This was disclosed by ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya during a press conference at a city hotel last night.
The cricket supremo arrived in the capital on Saturday night to review the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming Wills International Cup, scheduled for an October 24 start. Dalmiya is due to return to Calcutta this morning.
Hosted by Bangladesh Cricket Board President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the ICC chief executive David Richards also spoke on the occasion.
Asif Iqbal, the event manager of the knock-out tournament involving nine Test playing nations, and BCB general secretary Syed Ashraful Huq were also present.
Speaking to the press, Dalmiya, the Calcutta-based bespectacled cricket organiser, said that Bangladesh has the potential to emerge as the tenth Test playing country but needs to improve a lot in the longer version of the game.
``You should concentrate more on three or four-day cricket instead of one-day matches because that is the only way you know about a five-day match,'' said Dalmiya.
He also revealed that Nasimul Ghani, the ICC development officer for the Asian region, has put up a high recommendation to make the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) the Regional Development and Coaching Centre for Asia.
``This is a very positive sign for Bangladesh cricket. The infrastructure you have at the BKSP is impressive and that is why Nasimul has recommended to make it a centre for the development of Asian cricket,'' said Dalmiya.
Apart from Bangladesh cricket, Dalmiya confirmed that the Wills International Cup will be held according to the schedule.
``The schedule of a tournament of such magnitude where all the full members of the ICC are taking part, can not be shifted because this has been finalised a year before. We understand that the country is going through its biggest natural disaster of the decade, but we hope things will start to improve soon.''
When asked if the situation worsens further what the ICC is going to do, the smiling Dalmiya said,'' I don't think such a situation will come. Even though we are confident that we will cross the bridge when we come to it.''
Besides, Dalmiya expressed his full satisfaction on the preparatory works for the Wills International Cup.
``I have seen the ground, also inspected the flood lights and the work going on for the electronic scoreboard. Things are going ahead of our schedule which is very encouraging,'' said Dalmiya, adding that this was a scheduled visit for him.
Replying to another question whether ICC will donate a percentage from their million dollar earnings to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, Dalmiya technically ducked the query saying he alone can not take any decision in this regard.
David Richards, the chief executive of the ICC, also asked the BCB to start playing longer version of cricket on a regular basis.
``Switching to Test cricket from One-Day level is very difficult unless you play first class cricket,'' said Richards who will sit with Pepsi, the official drink sponsor of the Wills International Cup, this morning before heading for England in the afternoon.