ICC SHOULD TARGET 128 TEST NATIONS IN 5 Y

Zim, on the account of being a test team, which technically they are not, get $12m for their particiaption in World Cup , while Ireland, that stayed 1 month longer than them get around $1m for participation.

That's why I wa request ICC to plase increase number of Test Nations. When you are a Test Nation everything comes along, International Matches, Sponsorship, Telecast Rights, Advertising, Practice Pitches, ICC Grants, Professional Players, and Public Interest. The Structure can be built only after Test Status has been granted and not before that.

A Good Example is Bangladesh who had very little Structure in 2000 but getting the Test Status meant that they had to bulid a compettive Strcuture which they did. TEST STATUS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY FORCE NATIONS TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL STRUCTURE and would bring all the above mentioned facilities. I think once the ICC realises that it would bring about faster Development (No Test nation has been added since 2000).

Also most people must realize Test Status is no big thing and should not hype it or be very rigorous about it. All the current Test Teams went through it. They struggled a bit and have become better teams and so they should encourage the currently weaker teams as well.

I agree it will be difficult in places like Ireland, Scotland and co where other Sports are established to generate Public Interest but these countries have performed well and deserve Test Status. Also countries like Nepal and Afghanistan where the craze is there should be immediatley granted Test Status and the ICC should take care of their finances for the first few years.

I don't think it wud b the right thing to do....to increase the no of test playing nations...there will not b any competition then! All established teams will play against these minnows and their record and stats wud become better n better eventhough they wud not reflect the performance of the team!!
Having said that, I think the others like Ireland,Scotland etc are already in the Associate nations..and I think ICC should give more financial help and other facilities to these countries to promote the game in their countries!! They should build grounds etc in such countries!They shud b given much more money than wat they r getting now!