EXCLUSIVE | Pakistan Skipper Wants Test Split on Promotion-Relegation System

Shahid Hashmi
17 Jan 2025
04:27

Pakistan captain Shan Masood is one of many players who are well-versed and keeps a tab on the promotion of the game, the latest happenings around the world and who is doing what at the international stage.

Shan Masood

The recent plans of Big three -- India, Australia and England -- to split Test cricket into two tiers has shaken the minor countries, fearing they will get less cricket. According to the plan, the top three countries will play each other more as the series between them attract bigger crowds and revenues. The recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia -- between India and Australia -- attracted around 375,000 fans across the five Tests.

Masood is eloquent on the subject, backing the idea conditionally.

Shan Masood, exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
If there is a two-tier system then it has to be exciting. I have been reading about this plan so if it is implemented it should be on a relegation and promotion basis.

Masood has been a vocal supporter of Test cricket. 

Shan Masood
These are matters which the International Cricket Council and respective Boards of the playing members take up and decide. I can only give my opinion. The two-tier system needed to be exciting and attractive for the fans. It should support all teams and they should play each other in a competitive manner

Masood feared lowly ranked Test nations may suffer.

Shan Masood
We want more and more Test cricket. The setback for most of the countries is that they are playing just four to five Tests a year, which is very less. If I talk about Pakistan then we need more Tests because the demands of Test cricket are more than other formats. If you play one series and then the next is after ten months then you face challenges and do not allow to keep the momentum.
Shan Masood
Like we are now playing a two-match Test series against the West Indies and then Pakistan's next Test series is after ten months, a home series against South Africa which is a very long period. The same thing happened previously. We played three Tests in Australia in December 2023 and early January and then our next series was in August-September 2024, due to which we could not keep the momentum.

Masood opined the two-tier system will affect the lowly ranked teams.

Shan Masood
How the second tier teams will improve if they do not get to play the top Test nations, so it is imperative that there is a relegation and promotion system. In that way, all the teams will have a chance to go up the top tier and get to play bigger teams.

Masood reiterated Test cricket is the ultimate format.

Shan Masood
Players want to play more and more Test cricket and there is an interest. We have had very exciting Test matches recently. The series we had in South Africa produced some good cricket. The first Test went to the last two wickets and we were unlucky not to pull that off. Then in the second Test we were forced to follow-on and then avoided an innings defeat.
Shan Masood
That is how Test cricket will thrive. There is a two-tier system in county cricket and that is exciting because there is always an incentive for the second tier teams to get promotion. In that same way we can have Test cricket in two tiers.
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