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The ICC has withdrawn the proposal for a two-tier structure in Test cricket at the meeting of its chief executives committee (CEC) in Dubai on Wednesday, despite six Full Members reportedly being in favour of it. There was no vote at the meeting but the consensus was to take the proposal off the table for the moment.There was a significant compromise and it was subsequently decided to withdraw the two-tier proposal, a chief executive who attended the meeting told ESPNcricinfo. He said the BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket, the BCB and Zimbabwe Cricket had opposed the proposal, which had found support from the boards of Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.On Monday, the players global body FICA had revealed that 72% of players quizzed for the bodys annual survey were in favour of the introduction of a divisional Test competition to add more meaning to each match.According to the proposal, the two-tier system would comprise seven teams in the top tier and five in the bottom, with promotion and relegation between the two based on performance. To begin, Afghanistan and Ireland, as the leading Associate teams, would join the three lowest-ranked Test playing nations in the bottom tier, with other Associates having a chance at promotion based on performance.Reacting to the ICCs decision, Tony Irish, FICAs executive chairman, said it would be disappointing if the concept of a Test league was shelved so early in the process. He also urged the ICC to explore all options related to a new structure for international cricket, as bilateral international cricket increasingly seemed an unattractive product.Whilst we await full details of the outcomes of the meetings at the ICC, and the reasons for various proposals not being taken forward, it would be disappointing if the concept of Test leagues or other similar workable structures were shelved so early in this process, Irish said in a media release.We look forward to confirmation of plans regarding the future of all three international formats, and continue to urge the ICC to explore all options in relation to a new structure for international cricket, he added. We also look forward to that structure working alongside, and not competing with domestic T20 leagues.We remain concerned about the rising trend towards free agency in the current system, and the impact it will have on the global game. The growth, success and expansion of domestic T20 leagues is good for the game and for players, but bilateral international cricket is not moving with the times and is increasingly becoming an unattractive product.The two-day CEC meeting was not part of the quarterly meetings held each year by the ICC but a special meeting where Member Board representatives convened to discuss international cricket structures in all three formats. The chief executives discussed alternative models to invigorate the health of Test and ODI cricket, and provide more context to fixtures, while taking into account the danger of excessive Twenty20 cricket.One proposal was to bring back the World Test Championship, but many board representatives including strong members like BCCI were not in favour of it. They wanted a Test Championship. That cannot happen because there is not time enough for everybody to play everyone [in the current Future Tours Programme cycle], a chief executive said.Another proposal was for the top-two teams in the ICC rankings to have a play-off for the Test Championship. It was decided that the chief executives would discuss that plan with their own boards before deliberating further.The ICC statement following the meeting on Wednesday was vague. The ICC chief executive David Richardson said significant progress had been made at the two-day workshop where chief executives had discussed how to improve the quality of bilateral cricket. Encouragingly there is an appetite from the ten Full Members for more context around all three formats of the game and we have consensus on a range of areas, Richardson said. This includes the details of ODI and T20 structures and principles around Test cricket schedules, which include the concept of a Test Champion play-off every two years, and the opportunity for more nations to be involved.Without saying the two-tier proposal was off the table, Richardson said any new model would be put in place only from 2019, when broadcast deals are renewed by the Full Members. There are some complexities, not least because of scheduling and existing structures, but we envisage the changes being implemented for 2019.Members will now revert to their boards to share the details of the proposed revised structures and principles. Work will continue to develop a clear structure and position for each format over the coming months as the ICC collectively focuses on improving bilateral cricket for fans and players in the long run. 4 The 215-run stand between Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali was Pakistans fourth-biggest opening partnership in Tests. This was the fourth double-century stand by Pakistan openers - and their third against West Indies. The last double-century opening partnership for Pakistan was 219 between Imran Nazir and Mohammad Wasim against the same opposition in Bridgetown in 2000.1997 The last time both Pakistan openers faced 200 or more balls in the same Test innings - Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed, also against West Indies, in Karachi. Here, Aslam faced 212 balls while Azhar faced 268 balls till end of the first days play.407 Balls played by Azhar and Aslam in their first-wicket partnership - the most for Pakistan in an opening stand (where ball-by-ball information is available). The previous longest stand was 339 balls between Imran Farhat and Salman Butt in their stand of 129 runs against New Zealand in Napier in 2009-10.3 Number of century opening partnerships for Pakistan in the first innings of a Test in the last 20 years. Shehzad and Hafeez had added 178 in Abu Dhabi in 2014-15, and Butt and Yasir Hameed at the SCG in 2004-05. They had eight such stands prior to that in 35 years.178 Previous highest opening stand in the UAE, between Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in 2014-15. Azhar and Aslams partnership is the first doouble-century partnership for any team in the UAE.dddddddddddd2 Pakistan players who scored more centuries in their first 50 Tests than Azhars 11. Hanif Mohammad and Younis Khan had made 12 centuries at the same stage of their careers. Mohammad Yousuf also had 11 hundreds in his first 50 Tests.193 Runs scored by Azhar as opener in seven innings prior to this match. He had not made a single fifty; his highest was 49. His previous ten centuries were all scored at No. 3.3 Fifties for Aslam in his last three Tests, including this match. He had made 82 and 70 against England at Edgbaston a couple of months back. The innings of 90 in this innings is his best so far in Tests in eight innings.2005 The last time an opening pair added more than 200 runs against West Indies outside the West Indies. Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey had put on 231 runs in Hobart. There were two more double-century opening stands against West Indies in between, both at their home and both in Bridgetown.3.90 Economy of West Indies opening bowlers on the first day of this match - Shannon Gabriel leaked 55 runs at 3.92 and Miguel Cummins 62 at 3.87. The rest of the bowlers conceded runs at 2.65 and none of them had economy rate of more than three. ' ' '