Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce a new "Test championship" at next week's annual general meeting in Singapore.
Smith, whose team will take a 1-0 lead into tomorrow's third and final Test against the West Indies in Barbados, is concerned about the future of the five-day game with most series increasingly struggling to attract a significant audience.
"All our senior players support a formal Test championship," he told Reuters by e-mail from Bridgetown. "Such a championship would give context and value to every Test match and would stimulate interest in the five-day game worldwide."
The opening batsman offered a comparison with English Premier League football.
"It is important all Test matches should have equal value and that is what a championship would do," Smith said. "If you look at the Premiership in England, for example, Manchester United pick up three points for a win whether it is against Chelsea [the champions] or one of the relegation strugglers.
"I believe a Test championship is a matter of urgency to stimulate the five-day game."
The ICC's member nations have previously rejected several suggested Test championship formats but the latest, a watered-down compromise, could be adopted.
If it is introduced, the top four Test teams would play semi-finals and a final every four years over 18 days to decide the winners.
Afghanistan, one of the minnows of world cricket, have set their sights on playing in major cricketing events in the future as part of their goal to qualify for the World Cup in 2015.
For Kabit Khan, their coach, it starts with the team playing in next month's ICC World Cricket League, Division One in Holland. Canada, Ireland and Kenya, along with host Holland, will also take part.
Khan says the tournament "will be a launching pad for our unfulfilled dreams which is to qualify for the World Cup in 2015".
The coach has also targeted Twenty20 World Cups in 2012 and 2014. Afghanistan played in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies this year and gave a respectable performance against cricketing powers South Africa and India before bowing out.
Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners have asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider raising the salary cap for players in the domestic Twenty20 league by US$2 million (Dh7.3m) to $9m.
A majority of franchise owners also suggested all players be considered for the auction for IPL Season Four, to be held in 2011.
Since a new auction will take place and two new teams - Pune and Kochi - are joining the league, most franchise owners felt the player-retention clause, fixed at four Indian and three foreign players, should be scrapped.
"We have all expressed our views. Most of us want the salary cap to be raised to $9m," Vijay Mallya, the owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said.
The meeting yesterday was the first without Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman.
Modi has been suspended pending investigations of alleged corruption related to bidding for two of the clubs, television broadcast deals and other matters.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ness Wadia, the Kings XI Punjab team owner, extended his support to Modi. "I hope he is given a fair trial by the BCCI and the government of India."
Wadia, however, added that the IPL would continue to move ahead. "There are no differences between the BCCI and IPL team owners," he said. "It was a formal meeting."
The team owners' views will be presented to the IPL Governing Council, which meets at BCCI headquarters today.
* Agencies
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5