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Bangladesh recommended for cricket Test status

Bangladesh is likely to be granted Test match status later this year, a top cricket official said here on Friday.

The executive board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has recommended that Bangladesh become the 10th Test playing-nation, South African cricket boss Ali Bacher said.

Bacher, who also heads the ICC's development committee, said the board's decision will be taken up at the annual meeting of the governing body in London in June.

"Bangladesh has good cricketing culture and great support for the game," Bacher told reporters during the first Test between India and South Africa.

"Former South African Test player Eddie Barlow, who coaches Bangladesh, told me that the team was ready to play Test cricket," he said.

"There is a good chance that the recommendation will be accepted by the general body," Bacher said. Bangladesh, which currently enjoys only official one-day status, hosted the mini-World Cup in Dhaka two years ago and also played in the limited-overs World Cup in England in June.

The nine countries playing Test matches are: England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.