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Bangladesh test status not under threat

LONDON, Thursday (Reuters) - Bangladesh's test status is not under threat despite their struggle to compete at the top level, an official at the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

Asked if the country's test status could be reviewed, ICC corporate affairs general manager Brendan McClements told Reuters: "It's simply not on the agenda. It's not something that's being brought up at the moment."

Sri Lanka, fielding a second-string team, beat Bangladesh by 288 runs in the second test in Colombo on Wednesday.

Bangladesh have now lost 12 of their 13 matches since being granted test status two years ago. They were also in trouble in the other game against Zimbabwe but were saved when two days were washed out by rain.

McClements added: "We take note of their performances, of course, but that in no way suggests there's going to be any question of losing a test playing nation.

"Test status was awarded to them and it's theirs by right." In January several former Pakistan players including former skipper and coach Javed Miandad said they thought the ICC would soon come under pressure to review the situation after Bangladesh were outclassed by Pakistan in a two-match series. Miandad helped coach Bangladesh's batsmen for three weeks last year.

Sri Lanka fielded a young team for this week's second test after winning the first by an innings and 196 runs -- a Sri Lankan record. They also scored 509 runs in a single day in the first test, the highest ever scored in a day by a test team.

Bangladesh became the 10th test-playing nation in 2000. Several other sides, such as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, struggled to make an impact after first being promoted to test level.

Former Bangladesh coach Trevor Chappell, sacked earlier this year, said during his tenure: "They have a population of 130 million and cricket is their main game. There's only one way this team will go, and that's upwards.

"It will take some time and some pain and some hard work, but when it happens -- watch out."

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