The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a proposal which could limit Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to home matches because of their problems competing at the top level. ICC President Ehsan Mani told a news conference on Sunday, however, that there was no intention of stripping the teams of Test status and that the proposal was merely one of many under consideration.
"The discussions are being held to try to improve the content of Test and one-day international cricket," Mani said
after the ICC executive board had considered a report on the structure of the sport. He said the board had "deliberated upon several proposals on the future structure prepared by a consultant who has spent six months analysing the existing structure.
"This report will now be studied by the constituent boards and they will come back their feedback in March 2005.
"Any good sports body has a duty to carry out a critical appraisal of its cricket structure from time to time, carry out a self-assessment, but the present structure is still valid."
Zimbabwe's test programme was suspended in June for the rest of the year because the team, weakened by a player walkout after a row over selection policy, struggled to compete with the top sides. They have also lost their last 13 one-dayers. Bangladesh have not won a test for 30 matches.
Mani also said the executive board, having considered a report on the banning of Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe for his links with a bookmaker, had decided in future to bar any player guilty of such offences from ICC events.
Former Indian captain Muhammad Azharuddin, banned for life for match-fixing, caused controversy at the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July and August when he covered the tournament after being accredited by an Indian television news channel.
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