Zimbabwe will play four day test cricket along with Afghans & Irish from 2020 in Tier 2 System

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Black Mamba
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Zimbabwe will play four day test cricket along with Afghans & Irish from 2020 in Tier 2 System

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The conservative world of Test cricket is set to welcome two new entrants for the first time since the 1930s. As the International Cricket Council (ICC) begins its annual conference from Monday 19th June, 2017 in London, Ireland and Afghanistan look all set to become the No. 11 and 12 Test-playing nations.


Both the rapidly-improving teams are likely to be clubbed with Zimbabwe in what will be a 'tier 2' of Test cricket, the fixtures to be released very soon with the top team from this group likely to get a promotion to play against the `big boys' in tier 1. "We are optimistic. We've completed all the criteria and already submitted our application," Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Atif Mashal told TOI from The Oval in London, while watching the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan.
"It'll be a great thing for Afghanistan cricket and their war-torn country. This will bring a lot of joy and happiness to the people there. The players will be looking forward to this. It'll be a challenge for them to make a mark at the Test level," said former India opener and current Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput, who's been with the team for a year now, and has currently applied to be the new India coach.The 55-year-old Mumbaikar has just returned home after accompanying the team for a tour to the West Indies, where Afghanistan recorded their maiden ODI win over a Test-playing nation when they beat West Indies by 63 runs in the first ODI at St Lucia earlier this month. "West Indies is one of the best teams in the shorter format of the game, and it's a Test-playing nation. Beating them in the first game gave us a lot of self-belief that we belong at this level," said Rajput.




On July 11, Afghanistan are also all set to make their `debut' at Lord's when they play their first game at cricket's traditional home -a one-dayer against an MCC side led by Brendon McCullum, which will also include recently-retired Pakistan greats Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, besides Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara. "It's a great opportunity for us. Every cricketer dreams to play at Lord's. Playing against some of the best players of the world, and that too at a historic venue like Lord's will certainly give our cricketers the impetus to perform well," said Rajput.



Afghanistan's fairytale rise in world cricket could this week see them acquire coveted Test status, a massive boost for a nation long divided by war and riven by ethnic rivalries.
No longer rank minnows, Asghar Stanikzai's team are up for consideration following their victories over Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup in March, paving the way for their potential entry into cricket's elite.
Both Afghanistan and Ireland are bidding to become the 11th and 12th nations to join the Test club, nearly two decades after their immediate predecessors Bangladesh, if confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) at a meeting in London on Thursday.In February, the ICC agreed "in principle" that this week's meeting in London had "the potential to include additional Full Members (Ireland and Afghanistan subject to both meeting Membership criteria)”.Cricket Ireland understand there have been no hiccups since and they stand ready to take their place alongside the game's established powers.




"A committee is working inside the cricket board, and we will work on our proposal to present it to the ICC in the future, and hopefully full membership and Test status are on the way," chairman of the Afghan cricket board, Atef Mashal told AFP during a recent interview."We can not give any time frame at the moment, it is upon the ICC, they will decide when to give Afghanistan the Test status, and it is not in our hands," Mashal said.Unlike the sport's other major players, Afghanistan was never a colony of the British Empire.Instead many Afghans' first contact with the sport took place during the 1980s and 1990s, as refugees who had fled to Pakistan to escape the Soviet invasion.Cricket struggled under the hardline Islamist Taliban, who viewed sports as a distraction from religious duties — and famously shaved the heads of a visiting Pakistani football team as punishment for wearing shorts
But it has become hugely popular in the country since the regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001.
Recent successes, particularly in last year's ICC World Twenty20, have further raised the country's profile.
Spinners Rashid Khan, who idolises former Pakistan international Shahid Afridi, and Mohammad Nabi both made their mark in the Indian Premier League.
Khan was sixth-highest wicket-taker in his debut IPL with 17 scalps, and the pair broke into the top 10 of the ICC one-day international bowling rankings during the just-concluded tour of the West Indies.Their former batting coach and former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif said a place among the Test nations was well deserved and would benefit them in the future."Afghanistan deserves Test status because their performances are good. Once they get to play Tests, more and more players will come forward just like happened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — Kenya suffered because they were not awarded," he told AFP."I think it will be the ICC's best decision of the century," he added.Khan and Nabi are both Pashtuns, the country's dominant ethnic group with deep ties to Pashtuns across the border in Pakistan.In years gone by Afghanistan maintained a younger sibling relationship with its eastern neighbour.Kabir Khan, a former Pakistan international, coached the team from 2008-10 and oversaw their stratospheric rise from Division 5 of world cricket to ODI status.More recently, however, the team has followed broader geopolitical currents and pivoted toward India, Pakistan's historic rival.Last year, Afghanistan's national team shifted its base from Sharjah in United Arab Emirates to Noida, Delhi, while India's former batsman Lalchand Rajput replaced Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq as their national team coach.
There are nevertheless questions about how well Afghanistan will do in the game's longest format.




Bangladesh famously floundered for their first decade while New Zealand took 26 years to win their first Test.
Pakistani cricket writer Ahmer Naqvi, said it was important to be patient."For any team to make its mark, it takes a while to really get a hang of it no matter how good you are at the shorter versions."But, he added: "It's extremely important to provide Test status for Afghanistan and perhaps Ireland, because it is also a virtuous circle" of greater funding, organisation and structure.Currently, all of the national team's players are Pashtuns from the eastern provinces — Nangarhar, Kunar, Logar, Kunduz and Paktia.Tajiks comprise the country's second biggest ethnicity and are more likely to participate in football where they dominate the national team.They do participate at club level but none have yet broken through to the top — a crucial test in country that has long struggled with ethnic tensions.But for now, many are pleased to watch their team soar.Shabir Ahmad, a 24-year-old Tajik tailor in Kabul said: "When our team is playing, we forget our pain, bomb blasts and explosions in our country."The game of cricket does not belong to one particular ethnic group but to the entire Afghanistan."
After three failed attempts to qualify for the World Cup, Ireland used their home advantage in 2005 to qualify for the finals in the West Indies in 2007.It took only two matches for them to make their mark on the world stage.
After tying with Zimbabwe in their opening fixture, they turned up on St Patrick's Day to see a green pitch at Sabina Park for their match against Pakistan, and a sea of green in the crowd as thousands of Ireland fans took over the ground.Ireland bowled out the number-four ranked team for 132 and won by seven wickets in what was Bob Woolmer’s last match as Pakistan coach.
Tragically, the former England batsman was found dead in his hotel room the following morning.When, three weeks later, Ireland beat Bangladesh in Barbados they joined the ODI rankings table and have been there ever since.The celebrations back home in Ireland after the Pakistan win were nothing compared to those four years later when England were toppled in Bangalore, the day Kevin O’Brien became a world famous name with a 50-ball century — still the fastest ever in a World Cup — as Ireland chased down England’s 327.The 2015 World Cup finals saw Ireland claim two more Full Member scalps as Phil Simmons inspired his adopted team against both his native West Indies and then Zimbabwe, each time with totals over 300.Given all these achievements, it's little wonder Ireland feel ready to be put on a level playing field with the other 10 Full Members.t St Lucia earlier this month.
Last edited by Black Mamba on Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:52 am, edited 6 times in total.

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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

Post by ZIMDOGGY »

Black mamba,
How many times have you been told they aren't called the Chevrons, yet you still refer to them as that?
Mehta do you continue to say it?
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'The' Gus Mackay.

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A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*

TapsC
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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

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New Zealand took 26 whole years to win yet they want to banish us.. teams will never improve unless they play against the best. At this rate the game will never develop because I'm sure no team would accept being demoted. This elitist approach is what's stopping cricket from really challenging football as the biggest sport globally. Then they also have an 8 team champions trophy and 10 team World Cup. There is barely a difference between the 2 tournaments. I'm sure if they enter the olympics they would make it an 8 team tournament at most. What they should be doing is giving Ireland and Afghanistan the opportunity to play against everybody

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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

Post by eugene »

New Zealand of course were always going to get better as they played more cricket, same with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Not sure about Ireland long term. Who can honestly say Zimbabwe is going to improve? We will be battling it out with the Uganda's and Oman's in 10 years time.
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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

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TapsC wrote:
Mon Jun 19, 2017 6:20 pm
New Zealand took 26 whole years to win yet they want to banish us.. teams will never improve unless they play against the best. At this rate the game will never develop because I'm sure no team would accept being demoted. This elitist approach is what's stopping cricket from really challenging football as the biggest sport globally. Then they also have an 8 team champions trophy and 10 team World Cup. There is barely a difference between the 2 tournaments. I'm sure if they enter the olympics they would make it an 8 team tournament at most. What they should be doing is giving Ireland and Afghanistan the opportunity to play against everybody


Shifting Zimbabwe to Tier 2 in Test Cricket is not a worst decision by ICC. Over the years, Test Cricket has been considered as the highest level of the game. Qualification for the associates in becoming a Test were beating top sides, sounded domestic cricket infrastructure. Zimbabwe were the great units in early 80s beating top teams, creating upsets as a result they were given test status in 1992, and they proved that ICC decision wasn't wrong as they got test wins against some top test playing nations both home & away.

Afgans & Irish has been doing well against the top sides. They deserve test status, their achievements are more then Bangladesh Team who got Test status very easily in 2000 with just one World Cup win against Pakistan. Its the Kenya Team who could be said unlucky as they had the biggest achievement of reaching World Cup 2003 Semis but haven't got test status.

The quality of Cricket playing by Irish & Afghans are similar to Zimbabwe as a result its great to see them in Tier 2 Test Cricket and now these three teams will be getting more fixtures.
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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

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Better to develop strong domestic cricket with 6 team Logan Cup and 8 team Pro 50 & T20, injecting some competative cricket instead of playing A team with Weak Teams like Canada, Namibia.

Building domestic cricket will bring new talents to the game, is the only measure to improve, otherwise next group of associates like Scotland, Netherlands will dump Zimbabwe which they already started
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TapsC
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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

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eugene wrote:
Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:12 am
New Zealand of course were always going to get better as they played more cricket, same with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Not sure about Ireland long term. Who can honestly say Zimbabwe is going to improve? We will be battling it out with the Uganda's and Oman's in 10 years time.
Yes they definitely stood a chance against us because they were not starved of cricket. How do we improve if we don't play? In an ideal world a format where everybody plays each other is the only way to grow. You can't be creating divisions when there are only 12 teams strong enough to play. Test status is useless to Afghanistan if they only get to play us and Ireland. Cricket as a whole will never grow with that mentality.

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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

Post by The Robot »

TapsC wrote:
Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:46 am
eugene wrote:
Tue Jun 20, 2017 1:12 am
New Zealand of course were always going to get better as they played more cricket, same with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Not sure about Ireland long term. Who can honestly say Zimbabwe is going to improve? We will be battling it out with the Uganda's and Oman's in 10 years time.
Yes they definitely stood a chance against us because they were not starved of cricket. How do we improve if we don't play? In an ideal world a format where everybody plays each other is the only way to grow. You can't be creating divisions when there are only 12 teams strong enough to play. Test status is useless to Afghanistan if they only get to play us and Ireland. Cricket as a whole will never grow with that mentality.

You have a complain regarding Zimbabwe not getting enough games against top teams.

Ask yourself is it true ?

In last 10 years. Zimbabwe played enough against the top teams. Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand,West Indies, Sri Lanka all these teams visited Zimbabwe. But most of the results were loss. If Zimbabwe Can't beat strong team, how World Cricket will take them seriously ??

Look at Bangladesh, they had great time beating top teams as a result they are being invited by the top cricket nations.


Getting White Washed by Top Nations and being not interested playing with associates like Afghans, despite being worsely beaten by them, no body will hear useless complains of Zimbabwe.

ZIMBABWE NEEDS TO PERFORM WELL AND WIN MATCHES AGAINST TOP TEAMS ON WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY THEY GET INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT DIVISONS
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Re: Chevrons finally grouped in Tier 2 Test Cricket

Post by eugene »

I agree that the ICC needs to grow the game, but that growth isn't going to come from Zimbabwe. We are on our way out sadly.
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Re: Zimbabwe in Tier 2 Test Cricket along with Afghans and Irish from the year 2020

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The cricketing structure is set to change with the International Cricket Council approving Test Championship and One-Day International League, David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, confirmed in Auckland on Friday (October 13) after the governing body's meeting.


In the Test Championship, the top nine teams will play six series - three at home and three away - and it'll be put in place after the 2019 World Cup. The teams will be required to play at least two Tests while it can be expanded to five Tests in a series as well. Zimbabwe, Afghanistan & Ireland will not be the part of ICC Test Championship.


Four Day Test Between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Boxing Day has been approved, it will be now seen as a Trial. Dave Richardson said it was important to look at the alternatives as well apart from providing more context to various Test series. "Our priority was to develop an international cricket structure that gave context and meaning across international cricket and particularly in the Test arena. This has been delivered and every Test in the new League will be a five-day Test format," he revealed."However throughout the discussions about the future of Test cricket it became clear that whilst context is crucial we must also consider alternatives and trial initiatives that may support the future viability of Test cricket. The trial is exactly that, a trial, just in the same way day-night Tests and technology have been trialled by members.

"Four-day Tests will also provide the new Test playing countries with more opportunities to play the longer version of the game against more experienced opponents, which, in turn, will help them to hone their skills and close the gap with the top nine ranked teams."


Cricket Ireland had already confirmed they are willing to play four-day Tests. "I think our answer might reasonably be defined as more pragmatic and less purist than, perhaps, some of the longer-established Test nations," Warren Deutrom, the board's chief executive, had told Cricbuzz. "After all, we can hardly complain about compromising the traditional rhythms of Test cricket when Ireland hasn't played one yet. In fact, one might even argue that the four-day experiment is more likely to suit us given our familiarity with the Intercontinental Cup.


"Our chasing of Test status was driven by the desire to play the sport's pinnacle format, to give our players the option of realising that dream for Ireland rather than having to resort to England, not to mention the sheer status, opportunity for visibility and commercial potential that comes with being a recognised member of the front rank of cricket's nations.
"If that prestige and those benefits can accrue by virtue of a four-day game rather than five then I suggest it is an experiment in which Ireland would be happy to participate."


This Clearly indicates, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghans will play four day test in Tier 2 system.

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