Test cricket cannot be a 10-men club: Srinivasan

Believing firmly in the primacy of Test cricket, new ICC chairman N Srinivasan has said that the traditional five-day format "cannot be a 10-member club" forever and added that China are keen to enter the fray if cricket becomes an Olympic sport.
"Test cricket cannot be a 10-men club. So in those countries where there is an opportunity, there is interest and where there is domestic structure (the format should be promoted)," he said.
He spoke about China's plans of taking active interest in the sport.
"The Chinese are the member of Asian Cricket Council. A representative of Chinese Cricket Association made it clear that if cricket becomes an Olympic sport then they will plunge into it. But at the moment they are concentrating on other sports," the cricket administrator told 'NDTV'.

Srinivasan who recently reiterated that he had himself "stepped aside" from functioning as the BCCI president in the wake of IPL spot-fixing prove, said he is keen on bringing about a change in the international cricket set-up during his tenure as ICC chief.
"I have told all the associates and affiliates that I want to make a change and to that extent the development committee of the ICC composition has been changed. Now, I, as chairman of ICC, will chair the develop committee. It was not so before.

"We have two full member directors also so there is going to be a lot of focus on what we can do and how to bring more competition in cricket by upgrading the skills of those who are on the verge and who are the top associates.

He gave a lot of weight to the upcoming series between India and England.
"Cricket is becoming more open. For a person who so passionately cares about Indian cricket I think our clock starts on 9th (July) when we play the first Test because ultimately if our team does well then everyone is happy."
Indians may have held the top position in the ICC earlier but Srinivasan said his appointment is different from past administrators such as Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sharad Pawar.
"This is the first time that someone from India representing the BCCI is going to head the ICC where you also represent the country at the same time. In earlier years when earlier presidents were there, they did not have a vote on the table. The representative of ten members have the vote. The president preside over the meeting.

"At the board meeting he did not have a vote because if you are a president at that time the rule was that you cannot hold a position in your country.
"That has changed now. So a person who is representing India can be the chairman. So when you sit there, you sit with a vote, and that makes a huge difference.