Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala has "called for four-day Tests and continues to resist plans for a two-tier championship," saying it will leave nations as "second-class" citizens, according to Jon Pierik of THE AGE. The Int'l Cricket Council, with the backing of Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa, "wants to introduce a promotion-relegation system into Test cricket." The plan would be for "seven nations to comprise the top tier, and five in a second tier, the latter tier also providing promotion and relegation for associate nations." But India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have "opposed the plan." Sumathipala confirmed his position on Sunday, while "also taking a swipe" at the so-called "big three" nations. Sumathipala said, "The ICC is trying to push some countries to the 'bottom tier' -- after they had earned their status through a lot of hard work. I am sure they would never be able to get back to their former positions once demoted. Then their sponsors will leave them. They will become second-class Test-playing nations. I don't think that is the way forward and that is why we, as matter of policy, are against the 'two-tier' system." Sumathipala said that the "best way to reinvigorate Test cricket, which continues to attract poor crowds on the subcontinent, was to limit matches to four days" (THE AGE, 8/14).
