Speed was annoyed at Lillee's claims

Lillee criticised the ICC for allowing the Bangladesh v Australia Test series to go ahead in July because he believed it would be a total mis-match.

He attacked the ICC's Future Tours Programme saying it was driven by television money.

But the ICC has dismissed the claims and ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the comments were unfounded.

The ICC's mandate is to develop the sport as a global game and to protect the spirit of cricket ICC's chief executive Malcolm Speed

Speed said: "Dennis is winding two or three unrelated issues into one.

"The ICC Future Tours Programme is driven by the desire to have all Test-playing countries play each other on a regular basis.

"This is to ensure that everyone has the chance to play at the highest level regularly.

"Up until recently the smaller countries were at the mercy of the bigger nations.

"Zimbabwe are still yet to play a Test in Australia despite being a full member for 11 years.

"The ICC has already announced that it will review this programme to ensure that it is still operating in the best interests of world cricket. "

News story: Lillee hits out at 'greedy' ICC

Lillee said he favoured a two-tier Test Championship, with runs scored and wickets taken by Second Division nations count as first-class statistics, but are not included in Test records.

Writing in the West Australian newspaper, he said: "I'm not against progress, but involving struggling countries in quality events such as the World Cup and Tests simply makes a mockery of records.

"It became obvious to me, after watching the World Cup one-day contest earlier this year and the indifferent performances from some teams, that the game is degenerating into a money-driven event because of television.

Lillee favours a two-tier Test Championship

"Is the ICC more concerned about keeping Test cricket elite, or developing the game purely to maximise TV revenue without the slightest concern about compromising the structure and history of the game?"

But Speed said this claim was ridiculous.

He said: "In relation to the money that is generated from these tours, apart from the ICC Cricket World Cup and other ICC tournaments, any television money from these series is paid directly to the home board, not the ICC.

"The ICC's mandate is to develop the sport as a global game and to protect the spirit of cricket.

"The steps that have been taken in ensuring that all teams are able to play each other and the assistance that is being given to Bangladesh both reflect this role."

Former Australian Test bowler Rodney Hogg has urged the ICC to allow the weaker Test nations to field 'guest' overseas players.

Hogg told the BBC Sport website that it "reeked of lunacy" for Bangladesh to be playing a full-strength Australian side.

Bangladesh have lost 18 of their 19 Tests, 13 of them by an innings.

They will play two Tests in Australia, the first starting in Darwin on 18 July.