Cricket Australia chairman David Peever welcomes Afghanistan and Ireland – The Sydney Morning Herald

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever has welcomed Test cricket's latest additions, and says the new financial model for all nations is a "fair result".

Ireland and Afghanistan have been elevated to full member status by the International Cricket Council, and are likely to start playing Test cricket in 2019. However, it's unlikely they will face the top Test playing nations, including Australia, in their initial years.

As part of the sport's likely new structure, adding greater context to matches, Ireland and Afghanistanwill have most of their matches against lower-ranked nations Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Peever, who played a key role in restructuring cricket's governance and financial models for the ICC, said it was important Test cricket continued to spread.

"It is great to see them join international cricket at this leveland, as we have seen with the likes of Bangladeshreaching the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, it is important they be given opportunities to develop their skills and experience in this form," he said. "It also shows all associate members that they really can aspire to be full members."

Bangladesh had been the last country to be granted Test status in 2000. They initially struggled in the Test arena but are now at least strong on home soil.

Afghanistan, because of security issues,may have to stage its home matches in the United Arab Emirates. It has recently held home matches in the Indian city of Noida.

The new structure for one-day internationals and Test cricket has yet to be approved but it appears there is a consensus that major change is needed to add greater context. That will come in a Test championship, and with greater meaning for one-day matches as part of World Cup qualification.

"Context is vital for sport," Peever said. "Fans like each game to have meaning, to count for somethingand the proposed leagues will achieve this. They will also provide much greater certainty for scheduling, which we know has caused difficulties for everyone involved in cricket.

"The smaller countries, typically, have trouble building a schedule of matches that provides the right quantity of competitive cricket and the opportunities to commercially exploit matches through quality and certainty of programming. We anticipate that this will change under the new schedule."

Under the new financial model, cricket's most powerful individual body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, will accrue more than $300 million over an eight-year period and Australia will pocket about $100 million from ICC revenue. The previous model, dominated by India, Australia and England, had been widely criticised.

"This is a very fair result, and we are very comfortable with the agreement and the manner in which it has been discussed and arrived at," he said.

"ICC events continue to grow in popularity and commercial value. It is only appropriate that all countries share in the proceeds from these rights. But, at the same time, the new model strikes a balance that includes a clear understanding that the Indian market is a principle driver to this value, and that the BCCI should receive a much larger share."

Peever's primary focus this week will be to try to lock in a pay deal between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association ahead of Friday's deadline. After months of posturing and recent informal talks, the two parties remain at odds over the key plank,that being the players' insistence the set-percentage-of-revenue model be retained.

If the deadline is not met, players are likely to be locked out, puttingan Australia A tour of South Africa next month and a Test tour of Bangladesh from August in doubt.

CA said on Saturday players would have a week-long camp in Darwin from August 10 in preparation for the Bangladesh trip,should it go ahead.

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Cricket Australia chairman David Peever welcomes Afghanistan and Ireland - The Sydney Morning Herald

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