Hold India-Pakistan Test series annually: Akram

Wasim Akram on Saturday night said India and Pakistan should play an annual Test series.

"Politics should be separated from sports. Sports is the best way to bring the two countries together," he said in London.

"Both countries have enormous cricketing talents. There is no other game or event that generated so much enthusiasm among the people.

"Such a measure (an annual Test series) would not only help the cricket boards and clubs, but the two countries as well," he added.

On his decision to retire, Akram, the only player to capture more than 400 wickets in both versions of the game, said he wanted youngsters to get a chance to play for Pakistan.

No plan to withdraw Bangladesh's Test status: ACC official

The International Cricket Council has no plans to withdraw Bangladesh's Test status, the Asian Cricket Council said on Sunday.

"ICC and ACC are particularly committed to all out support to improve cricket in Bangladesh..." ACC development manager Zakir Husain Syed said.

"ICC has plans to improve the infrastructure and domestic competitions in Bangladesh and has allocated around $0.5 million for that purpose."

Bangladesh became the tenth Test-playing nation in June 2000, but has since lost 18 of the 19 Tests it has played. The national team has not won a one-day match for four years.

Syed said before leaving to attend the ICC development committee meeting from May 31 to June 1 in New York, that ICC development manager Andrew Ead had nominated certain areas where the ICC and the Pakistan-based ACC could work together for Bangladesh's improvement.

"The ICC has planned an elite training programme in Bangladesh and ACC will also conduct a sports medicine programme besides various other coaching and umpiring programmes there," Syed said.

Bangladesh, blanked 2-0 by South Africa last month, has hired former Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore and hopes the Australian can change their fortunes.

Syed said the ACC was also exploring the possibility of improving the sport's structure in Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Bahrain, Brunei and Malaysia.

"Asia has great scope for cricket and we are the region where cricket has flourished due to proper planning and adequate spending of funds," he added.