Two-tier league system shelved by ICC amid BCCI opposition

According to the proposal, the two-tier system would have comprised seven teams in the top tier and five in the bottom, with promotion and relegation between the two based on performance. To begin, Afghanistan and Ireland, as the leading associate teams, would have joined the three lowest-ranked Test nations in the bottom tier, with other associates having a chance at promotion based on their season-long performances.

However, the ICC has decided to drop the proposal for a two-tier structure in Test cricket at the meeting of its chief executives' committee (CEC) in Dubai on Wednesday. Reportedly, despite six full members being in favour of the system and no vote at the meeting, the panel has decided to shelve the proposed idea for the time being.

Without openly acknowledging that the two-tier proposal was off the table, ICC's chief executive David Richardson said that any new model would be put in place only from 2019,.

"There are some complexities, not least because of scheduling and existing structures, but we envisage the changes being implemented for 2019,” Richardson said in an official statement by the ICC.

But according ESPNCricinfo's report, a top official who attended meeting had this to say.

"There was a significant compromise and it was subsequently decided to withdraw the two-tier proposal." 

The official also had revealed that the proposal had found support from the boards of Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies while the BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket, the BCB and Zimbabwe Cricket had all opposed the proposal.

Recently, BCCI President Anurag Thakur opposed the two-tier league system in Tests saying that the system will only benefit the top-five teams and the lower-ranked teams will suffer as a result of the proposal.

In the wake of Wednesday's developments, President of Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), Tony Irish called the decision taken by the cricketing bodies as a “disappointing” one.

"Whilst we await full details of the outcomes of the meetings at the ICC, and the reasons for various proposals not being taken forward, it would be disappointing if the concept of Test leagues or other similar workable structures were shelved so early in this process," Irish said in a media release.