Asian countries support Zimbabwe to retain permanent Test status

The members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will meet ahead of the ICC meeting later this month in Dubai, it is learnt here.

According to highly placed sources in the BCCI, the Indian representatives were busy with the IPL and could not attend, therefore, other board members, namely Thilanga Sumathipala (Sri Lanka Cricket), Shahryar Khan (Pakistan Cricket Board) and Nazmual Hasan Papon (Bangladesh Cricket Board), met earlier this month in Sri Lanka. “They all met and discussed (1) to oppose the formation of the Big Three (2) the revenue sharing system (supporting India to have its major share) from the ICC and (3) ensure that Zimbabwe does not lose Test status.”

If the new modalities worked out by Shashank Manohar and company is approved, Zimbabwe Cricket is in danger of losing permanent Test status.

“The President of Sri Lanka (Maithripala Sirisena) also hosted dinner for the invitees,” confirmed a PCB source.“rahul Johri, the BCCI CEO is likely to have participated in the discussions via video link,” it is learnt here. Zimbabwe president Tauengwa Mukuhlani, who abstained from voting in the last ICC meeting was not present in Sri Lanka very recently but is likely to have had made a trip to India where he, along with Thilanga Sumathipala met BCCI CEO and Vikram Limaye in Mumbai and extended its support to the BCCI for its fight against the ICC on revenue sharing system, it is also learnt here.

Sumathipala, who is in Australia to attend a family wedding did not respond to the repeated call made.