Over the past few years, the ICC has been under enormous pressure from fans, media and other countries to protect Test standards. We all know that the game needs to develop around the world, but at what cost? The ICC must protect the standards of Test cricket and World Cup cricket. Already there is a notion from the ICC that the next World Cup will be played among 10 teams. The ICC has eradicated the chuckers, now it is time to go after the countries who are not playing at the standards that the ICC desires. Let's stop beating around the bush and be honest. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have not been up to Test standard over the past few years. Obviously these countries have had many problems to deal with. But Bangladesh has a population of nearly 160 million, with cricket and soccer as the most popular sports, and needs to lift its game. The ICC has done all it can to support the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The ICC sanctioned the 2014 World Twenty20 in Bangladesh to further develop cricket within the nation and bring necessary funds. The ICC is also fully aware that the BCB is struggling financially. The ICC does not want to get involved with the politics of the BCB, but it might need to if Bangladesh's performances don't improve in the near future. Bangladesh first played a one-day international in March 1986, and joined the ICC as a full member (with Test status) in November 2000. Outside of playing Zimbabwe, Bangladesh have played 74 Tests, lost 64 and won two against a weakened, strike-torn West Indies. The one-day team's record is a little better against the other full-member teams, losing 166 and winning 27.

Stats prove the Bangladeshi bowlers have been doing their job, but their top four batsmen simply haven't. Bangladesh's under-19 World Cup campaigns have not been much better. Over the past four World Cups, they have finished eighth, ninth, seventh and ninth. The first problem with Bangladesh cricket is that there is no real first-class structure, with no four-day cricket. There is a Dhaka Premier League, which is mainly 50-over cricket. Each team is owned by various board members and it is from here that selectors mainly pick their national squad. The whole league is run by corporates, who pick players from overseas when it suits them. There seems to be no proper governance in these matches, with matches often delayed to suit the availability of overseas players. The real problem for me is the culture and attitude of the board and its players. The Bangladeshis need to play more four-day cricket. Sadly, it seems that the BCB is frightened to play first-class cricket against other associate or first-class teams for a fear of failure and the loss of their Test status. Herein lies the problem. How can any of these gifted Bangladeshi cricketers improve and be competitive if they don't play in a structured first-class system or just don't play any four-day cricket? Commercially things have got worse for the BCB. Recently, Gazi TV has bought the broadcast rights until 2020 for a reported $US20 million. They were the only broadcaster to bid. Previously, Nimbus TV had the rights for a reported deal of $45 million. These figures do not even cover TV production costs. The ICC should stipulate to the BCB that if it wants to keep full-membership status, then there must be changes. If the ICC is going to invest more money and time into Bangladesh cricket, then it should place three independent directors on the board and choose the coach, staff and selectors.

The first job for the board would be to introduce a competitive first-class system. They should also organise a centre of excellence or academy. A proper, concise pathway system should be introduced for every young Bangladeshi who wants to play for his country. The ICC must select the coaching staff so players will not be able to run off to their favourite board member and get people sacked when training is too hard. Bangladesh has gone through four coaches in four years, mainly due to player demands. It is time the players stood up, got fit and started to play good cricket. They have had everything at their fingertips for years, and yet still provide poor performances. Sadly for me, many of the players seem to have the attitude that playing for their country is good enough for them. Winning matches doesn't seem a priority. They seem to be happy with a nice 50 or a three-wicket haul. If the Bangladeshi players looked at the Australian and South African fitness levels they would be embarrassed. The players must realise, if they want to earn the big bucks with Indian Premier League, Big Bash and Caribbean Premier League contracts, they need to play well for their country first and need to find a winning culture within the playing group. In 2012, the BCB was trying various different ways to improve its revenue streams when it created the Bangladesh Premier League. I was involved in this first season as a coach and I thought the league should have been a good move by the board but, sadly, it failed due to poor governance. It was riddled with controversy as Mohammad Ashraful, a past captain, was banned for eight years by the ICC on a match-fixing charge. The last BPL tournament was in 2013, and many players and coaching staff are still owed money. I know I haven't painted a pretty picture for Bangladesh, but I firmly believe they do have a future. They have some great talent, but it needs to be harvested properly. I just feel the board needs to forget about its own agendas and conflicts of interest and worry about the future of the game.

Their whole style of cricket needs a complete overhaul. The Bangladeshi fans are among the most passionate in the world and deserve a lot more than what they are getting. They had a win over Afghanistan this week, but Afghanistan already have one win over Bangladesh – and just look at how competitive the Afghans are when you consider what they have gone through over the past seven or eight years. Maybe Afghanistan are more likely to win Test-match status than Bangladesh are to keep it. On Saturday we will see how the Bangladesh batsmen cope with the Australian pace attack on a bouncy, greenish Gabba pitch. The helmets, arm guards and chest guards will be out in force. We will see how good their fielding and fitness is. We are going to find out how much playing for their country means to them. Surely the players must realise that if they do not put up a reasonable fight in this World Cup, there might not be a tomorrow.