The International Cricket Council's new president, Ehsan Mani, conceded today that in hindsight the decision to award Test status to Bangladesh was a mistake.

Talking to reporters immediately after taking over office, the 58-year-old Pakistani cricket administrator said the performance of Bangladesh, which has lost 18 of its 19 Tests, had been disappointing.

"On hindsight, yes," he said, when asked whether it was a mistake to grant Test status to Bangladesh. "But they started off very well."

And even though he promised help to develop the game in Bangladesh, Mani said the country's international fixtures, particularly overseas, could be curtailed in future.

"They have to consolidate more at home before playing abroad," he said.

PTI