ICC to discuss four-day Test proposal in March despite growing criticism

ICC's cricket committee is set to discuss four-day Test proposal in March despite growing criticism from world's leading players including India skipper Virat Kohli.

Former India captain Anil Kumble, who heads cricket committee of sport's governing body, said proposal will be discussed in next round of ICC meetings, to held in Dubai from March 27-31.

"Since I am part of committee, I can't tell what I am thinking about it (proposal) at moment. We will discuss it in meeting and let you kw," Kumble told PTI, adding that he is fine with past and current cricketers have expressed ir views about four-day Tests.

likes of Andrew Strauss, Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardene and Shaun Pollock are also on cricket committee.

proposal, which has been floated for 2023-2031 cycle, has t gone down well with greats of game including Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.

However, member boards from England and Australia are open to idea while BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly has said that "it is too early" to talk about it.

Ahead of three-match T20 series opener against Sri Lanka in Guwahati last week, Kohli made his stance very clear on subject.

"According to me, it should t be altered. As I said, day-night is ar step towards commercialising Test cricket and you kw, creating excitement around it, but it can't be tinkered with too much," he had said.

"n you are purely only talking about getting numbers, entertainment and you kw. I think intent will t be right n because n you will speak of three-day Tests. I mean where do you end. n you will speak of Test cricket disappearing. So I don't endorse that at all."

Leading Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has termed idea "ridiculous".

More recently, Australian great Ponting expressed his disapproval of four-day Tests.

"I understand re is a commercial side to it, saving money and things like that and how y would start on a Thursday to finish on Sunday.

"I'd like to hear or reasons behind it. I don't understand it eugh and I'm very much a traditionalist, so if something's t really badly broken n why do we need to fix it or change it?" Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Among former players who want to see four-day Tests are Shane Warne, Mark Taylor and Michael Vaughan.

ICC wants to try out four-day Tests primarily to free up in crowded calendar and use that time for commercially lucrative shorter formats.

It is t a new phemen. England and Ireland played a four-day Test last year. South Africa and Zimbabwe too played one in 2017.