As the World Cup one-day tournament limped into its second stages, international cricket bosses yesterday revealed plans to revamp the test scene.
The world test championship faces an overhaul that could downgrade the weakest teams, and the number of teams playing one-day cricket may be increased.
The changeswere indicated at a briefing to discuss the progress of the eighth World Cup.
Despite rain-affected matches and match boycotts which have led to a mismatched line-up in the Super Six round, the tournament executive director, Ali Bacher, insisted that everything was hunky-dory.
But his confident assertions could not conceal the huge imbalance in ability at the supposed top level of the sport.
David Richardson, the International Cricket Council's cricket manager, said that changes would be discussed at an executive board meeting in June.
"There will probably be certain ideas put forward," he said. "Bangladesh's results have not been great. There is no automatic way to get test status at the moment. For instance, why should Bangladesh play tests when Kenya do not?"
Richardson said it might be possible for the top eight nations to play full test series against each other and for the others to play 'A' test matches.
The ICC has 10 test-playing members, but Bangladesh, who were granted the status three years ago, have been a disaster.
They have lost 16 of of their 17 test matches, nine of them by an innings.
The world test championship was started two years ago to ensure that each country played in home and away series at least once every five years. Richardson said that the programme should be changed.
As part of the mission to spread cricket's appeal, the number of one-day nations would be increased.
Bacher said the next cup could have 16 teams, two more than at present.
