Dubai: An Associate Member nation such as the UAE will get to play Test cricket soon for the first time in the history of the game, it was announced on Thursday.
The decision was taken during the two-day International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting held here, which approved the introduction of an ICC Test Challenge. This will take place every four years between the lowest-ranked Test team and the winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.
The proposal means that the 10th ranked side on the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings as of December 31, 2017, or at the conclusion of any series in progress at that time, will play two five-day matches at home and two five-day matches away against the winner of the upcoming ICC Intercontinental Cup, with the inaugural Challenge scheduled to take place during 2018.
Commenting on the decision, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, said: “The ICC Test Challenge now opens the door for Associate Members to play Test cricket, and in doing so gives even greater context to the ICC Intercontinental Cup which will now be a pathway to Test cricket.â€
In the next eight years, two ICC Intercontinental Cup tournaments are planned, with the first to run from 2015 to 2017 and the second to be held between 2019 and 2021.
The second ICC Test Challenge is scheduled for 2022.
It was also decided that Associate and Affiliate member nations will also get to play in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in future, as happened in the recent ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. In this case, six nations, including the UAE, competed against each other for a slot among the super eight teams.
For the 2016 event, the top-eight Full Members on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings as of April 30, 2014 will automatically qualify for the second round, while the ninth and 10th ranked Full Members will get automatic places in the first round. The six qualifiers will progress from the 14-team ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, which will be staged in Ireland and Scotland from July 9 to August 2, 2015, during which a total of 51 matches will be played.
The Board also thanked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20. Members also congratulated Sri Lanka for winning the men’s title and Australia’s women for completing a hat-trick of victories in the event.
Commenting on the World Cup, ICC President Alan Isaac said: “The ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 was an extremely successful event, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the players, officials, spectators and media. A lot of credit must be given to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC team for putting up a memorable show. The event helped Bangladesh enhance its infrastructure in Dhaka and Chittagong and develop a new international venue in Sylhet.
“Sri Lanka’s triumph means the event has produced five different men’s champions in as many editions.â€
