DUBAI: The winners of the Intercontinental Cup for non-Test playing nations will get a chance to earn Test status from 2018 under new plans announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.

An ICC board meeting decided that the winners of the 2017 Cup and the world’s lowest-ranked Test team will play two matches of five days each on a home and away basis in a new series called the ICC Test Challenge.

Starting in the year 2018, it will be held every four years.

If the Cup holders beat the Test side, the former ICC associate member will become the 11th Test-playing nation — with the losers still retaining their Test status.

Ireland and Afghanistan are the top contenders to have a shot at the Test status in four years’ time.

“The ICC Test Challenge now opens the door for associate members to play Test cricket and in doing so gives even greater context to the ICC Intercontinental Cup,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said.

Over the next eight years, two Intercontinental Cups are plan­ned with the first to run from 2015-17 and the second in between 2019-21. The second ICC Test Challenge is planned in 2022.

Meanwhile, the board also decided to retain the same format for the 2016 World Twenty20 in India.

The top eight full members on the T20 rankings as on April 30 will automatically qualify for the main round of 2016 event.

Meanwhile, the ICC Board ratified the appointment of Australia coach Darren Lehmann and the West Indies coach Ottis Gibson as the representatives of national coaches on the ICC Cricket Committee.