The two-tier idea for Test cricket that was shelved at the ICC chief executives committee meeting in Dubai proposed to have the top seven ranked sides in the first tier, and the bottom three sides in the second tier along with Afghanistan and Ireland. ESPNcricinfo lists the pros and cons the system might have had. Benefits- The system would have given each Test series a context greater than just the bilateral trophy. Teams would have been encouraged to strive for the best possible result to improve their standing in the tier.- Increased opportunities for Associates to play long-form cricket and grow in competitiveness. Ireland and Afghanistan were to be the first Associate teams in the second tier, but there would have been the chance for the others to break into the second tier through a promotion and relegation system.- Better competitiveness in Test cricket with closer-matched teams playing each other, making it a more interesting contest for fans. For example, West Indies at No. 8 in the rankings would be able to play third-placed Australia only if they became competitive enough to climb into the top tier.Drawbacks- A danger of widening the gulf between the top and bottom sides. Without playing higher-ranked teams, there was the chance the Full Members in the bottom tier would struggle to improve their Test cricket. Also, without the incentive of playing the best opponents, players might have increasingly been lost to the T20 circuit.- A concern the rich would become richer and the poor would become poorer. Without India, England and Australia (currently in the top tier) playing the bottom ranked teams, there was a danger that those boards would suffer financially. If there was to be a system of compensation to make up for a loss of TV earnings, it was not detailed in public.- Since the top-tier teams were meant to be obliged to play the bottom-tier teams occasionally, there would have been a danger of extremely lopsided contests, and the possibility of skewed records. Cheap Tony Gwynn Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Wholesale Padres Jerseys . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.cheappadresjerseys.com/ . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Cheap San Diego Padres Jerseys . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Cheap Rollie Fingers Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Match facts October 13-17 2016Start time 1530 local (11:30 GMT)Big picture Pakistan are no longer the No. 1 Test team, having lost the top ranking to India, but they still retain the sense of being champions. They are set to play their 400th Test match, a landmark game in more than one way since it will be played with a pink ball, under lights, at the Dubai International Stadium. It will be only the second ever day-night Test, following the Australia-New Zealand match in Adelaide last year.First-class matches have been played under lights in both Pakistan and West Indies, but the experience is still a new one for most of the players from both sides. The visibility of the ball post-dusk has been a talking point, particularly with the pink ball sporting a black seam, but there is more excitement than anxiety among the players in the lead-up to the Test.The UAE has previous experience of staging pink-ball cricket, having hosted the English first-class season-opener between MCC and the champion county under lights multiple times since 2010. Those matches, however, were all played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Dubai is hosting its first pink-ball match, and it will be interesting to see if the stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000, can draw sizeable crowds for the Test match.Pakistan sit comfortably ahead of West Indies in the rankings table and are playing in familiar conditions, but they will guard against complacency. They will be without their best batsman, Younis Khan, who is resting after recovering from dengue fever, and are likely to feature two debutants as well as a new-look combination with five specialist batsmen and an allrounder slotting into a five-man bowling attack.West Indies lost their most recent Test series 2-0, at home against India, and the margin could have been worse if not for rain. They havent begun this tour well either, having been whitewashed in both the ODI and T20 series, and it will not be a surprise if they suffer another 3-0 reverse in the Tests. But they have gained a bit of confidence from their two warm-up games, in which as many as six of their batsmen - Leon Johnson, Shai Hope (twice), Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich, Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo - made half-centuries, while their bowlers also got among the wickets. It remains to be seen, though, if the No. 8-ranked Test team can make any sort of dent in Pakistans proud record in the UAE.Form guide Pakistan: WLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)West Indies: DLDLDIn the spotlight Babar Azam announced himself with three back-to-back hundreds in the ODI series, and Younis Khans absence will allow him to showcase his talents at Test level. Pakistan have a strong batting group, and Babar will need to extend his ODI form into his Test debut to make it hard for the team management to leave him out when Younis returns.Darren Bravo struggled in the home Tests against India, but he will be encouraged by the fact that his overseas average (51.18) far exceeds his average at home (29.35). He comes into the series with a bit of form behind him, with an innings of 61 in the second ODI and a 91 for the West Indians in their tour game against the PCB Patrons XI in Sharjah. Legspinner Devendra Bishoo also immpressed in that match, picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and will be relied on to do a lot of bowling if he plays.dddddddddddd.Team news Pakistans Test line-up has been fairly stable over the last few years, but they have often craved an allrounder to give them flexibility in different conditions. Mohammad Nawaz, who is likely to make his Test debut in Dubai, could be that sought-after player with his batting and left-arm spin. Babar Azam will come in for Younis Khan as he recuperates from his recent bout of dengue fever.Pakistan (possible): 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Misbah ul Haq (capt), 5 Babar Azam, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Sohail Khan.With half-centuries in both warm-up matches, Shai Hope has made a case for inclusion in West Indies middle order. Marlon Samuels, who has been in poor form in Test matches of late, didnt play either game, and it will be interesting to see if he retains his place at No. 4. With Roston Chase established as their first-choice spin-bowling allrounder, West Indies will choose between Devendra Bishoo and Jomel Warrican as the specialist spinner to partner him.West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Leon Johnson, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shai Hope/Marlon Samuels, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Miguel Cummins, 11 Shannon Gabriel.Pitch and conditions Temperatures in the UAE have come down and the weather is likely to be cooler than it was during the limited-overs matches. Dew could be a factor, though neither side has complained about it so far. It is understood that the ground staff have used anti-dew spray on the outfield to minimise its impact and reduce the likelihood of spinners experiencing difficulty gripping the ball in the evening.Stats and triviaPakistan are playing their 400th Test match. They played their first match in Delhi against India in 1952. In their 63 years and 11 months as a Test team, Pakistan have won 128 games, lost 113, and drawn 158.Yasir Shah is five wickets short of 100 in Test matches. He has played 16 Test matches so far, and will become the joint-second-quickest to the mark if he gets there in Dubai.West Indies have won four Tests and lost 25 while playing away from home in the last ten years. Three of their four wins have been against Bangladesh. The last time they won an away Test against an opposition other than Bangladesh was in December 2007, in Port Elizabeth against South Africa.Quotes I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut. He has played mature innings and has developed well. He has played well not only here but also in New Zealand and looks a good prospect.Misbah-ul-Haq on handing Babar Azam a Test debutWe obviously went down in our last series, but it is a fresh series here and we had a pretty good lead up to this Test series. We have been here quite a while and most of the guys had a good camp in the Caribbean.Jason Holder doesnt think his teams poor showing at home against India will have a bearing on this series ' ' '