New Delhi: The ICC has decided to start with four-day Test matches on a trial basis but the Indian cricket team is unlikely to play the curtailed version of the longest format in near future.
The decision to introduce four-day Test was taken during
recent ICC board meeting in Auckland with South Africa and
Zimbabwe set to play the inaugural four day 'Test' on the
'Boxing Day'.
However BCCI wants to stick to traditional format as has
been recommended by the Anil Kumble led ICC Cricket Committee,
which was against this experimental move.
"India will not play any four day Test matches, atleast
in the near future. Any Test match involving India will be a
five-day affair," a senior BCCI official privy to developments
told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"The BCCI believes that there is a lot of merit in Anil
Kumble-led Cricket Committee's recommendations that duration
should not be tinkered with. But since four-day Test matches
are bi-partite agreements, if two nations are okay, they will
go ahead with it," the official said.
The other reason for BCCI not warming up to four day Test
is because there are no points awarded for the proposed Test
league.
"Only five-day Tests will have points that will be
counted for the World Test Championship. What's the point in
playing matches that won't count for anything. In any case, if
we play Ireland or Afghanistan also, it will be five-day
affairs," the official said.
Asked if near future, the broadcasters start pressurising
for curtailed Test matches, the official said: "We will cross
that bridge when it comes."
It is learnt that ICC's main aim towards promoting four-
day Test is to ensure that Ireland and Afghanistan are eased
into the system along with Zimbabwe being able to remain
competitive.
"Let's be practical. For Ireland or Afghanistan, it will
be very difficult that they can be competitive in a five-day
format straightaway. If Test matches against these countries
end inside three days or little over it, it is only logical
that four-day Tests are tried out," an official of a member
board said.
