Walcott sends ominous smoke signal (1 November 1998)
Bangladesh will not be awarded 'Test status', the privilege to play the game at the highest level, unless it meets certain criteria
01-Nov-1998
1 November 1998
Walcott sends ominous smoke signal
By Hasan Masood
Test status a far cry
Bangladesh will not be awarded 'Test status', the privilege to play
the game at the highest level, unless it meets certain criteria. This
was disclosed by Sir Clyde Walcott, chairman of the Cricket Committee
of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while talking to The
Daily Star during the first semi-final of the Wills International Cup
between South Africa and Sri Lanka on Friday.
When prodded about the many assurances so far given by
representatives of the game's world governing body that Bangladesh
would get the Test status within the next two years or so, the former
West Indies cricketer said, "I am not aware of that. I know that they
are working towards improving the criteria set for all the associates
to reach in order to become a Test playing country. And we have not
given any specific time."
About the time limit, Sir Walcott said, "I don't know. It depends on
whether they meet the criteria which has been set. There are several
criteria; playing three or four-day cricket is one, the government
has the game among the young people and the approach to play better
cricket generally".
"All I would say is that the facility here at the Bangabandhu Stadium
is good. I have not seen any other facility. But I think once you
work with young players, young cricketers in the schools with the
very high population you have, and get the game interested among the
youngsters, then I think you can get closer to the Test status,"
opined Sir Walcott.
"The response from the people to cricket as I have seen for the first
time coming here in Dhaka is extremely good. The interest is high.
The crowd is very disciplined and knowledgeable. I am only surprised
that the standard of cricket in Bangladesh isn't higher than it is,"
added Sir Clyde.
When asked about the present picture of the game with the two
versions, the bespectacled hero of yesteryears said, "Cricket has
changed. There is, for example, the limited-over game which is
completely different from the Test cricket. And that has changed the
whole approach to cricket. So there has been a big change in cricket
over the years."
"You have to keep faith in what's going on in the world. Everything
is changing and I have no problem with that. The game has become more
professional, more commercialised. And that is what we have to accept
today," he continued.
About the dwindling standard of Caribbean cricket, Sir Walcott said,
"West Indies has been reeling in the eighties and the nineties;
probably for about sixteen years. You can't continue to win for life.
The other countries are improving. And we had such a talented side,
that it is difficult to maintain a standard throughout. So I think
West Indies can still compete but they may not be champions. They
should go on and develop new players and hopefully they become better
again."
Finally, Sir Walcott praised the West Indies captain Brian Lara
saying, "I think he is a very knowledgeable individual in cricket and
he should do very well as captain.
Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)