BCCI opposes two-tier Test structure to protect interests of smaller cricketing nations

BCCI PRESIDENT ANURAG THAKUR has stressed on the board’s stand against the idea of two-tier Test structure suggested by International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive officer David Richardson. Thakur has openly stated that the Indian cricket's top governing body does not want the smaller cricketing nations to lose out on playing competitive cricket.

As reported by cricbuzz, the BCCI president said, 

"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. 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."

The ICC chief had earlier opined that two divisions in Test cricket would bring more meaning to the format. 

"Unless we can give some meaning to these series beyond the rankings and a trophy, then interest in Test cricket will continue to waver. The same applies if we allow uncompetitive Test cricket to take place too often."

Sources had reported that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) too were in opposition to the new plan. BCB vice-president attributed nation’s success in ODIs to the opportunities to play competitive sides of the format. 

"We believe that more we play against competitive sides, the better we will get. If we didn't play against better standard sides in ODIs, we wouldn't have come this far. We were given a reality check when we were promoted to the highest level. I feel that if we go backwards, our cricket will regress."