12 February 2005	Saturday	02 Muharram 1426

LONDON, Feb 11: Adoption of a two-tier system in world cricket is one of the issues on agenda of two-day meeting of International Cricket Council, the game's governing body, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from March 17.

Under the proposal, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the two weakest Test-playing nations, will play less cricket and mostly at home. Other issues include increased duration of the cricketing programme and varied obligations of different member countries.

For some time the ICC has been concerned that the tour programme is not right. All ten full members are supposed to play each other once at home and once away in five years and repeat that over the next five years.

Each series must consist of at least two Tests and three one-day internationals. Under the proposed plan, the eight major countries barring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, will play each other twice - once at home, and once away - every four years. A two-tier system, if adopted, could allow the ICC gradually to bring other countries, such as Kenya and Holland, into Test cricket. -PPI