KARACHI, (Reuters) – Former Pakistan test captain  Javed Miandad has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC)  to resist calls for a shake-up of the traditional test match  format.

The ICC is considering reducing tests to four days from the  current five as part of a series of innovations aimed at  keeping the oldest form of the sport exciting to spectators in  the wake of Twenty20’s growing popularity.

“Any move to change the format of test cricket or the way  it is played would prove very harmful to cricket in the long  run,” Miandad told Reuters yesterday.

“I don’t think reducing tests to four-day events and  playing them under lights or using coloured balls will help the  sport, which needs its traditional form to survive.”
Despite the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket, most  players considered test cricket as the real format for the  game, he added.

“Twenty20 is good entertainment and has commercial value  but any move to tamper with the traditional format of test  cricket will prove counter productive,” Miandad added.

The former batsman, who appeared in 124 tests and is now on  the Pakistan board, said it was important to find a way to let  all forms flourish.

“A path must be found for all formats of the sport to  survive together like test and one-day matches have done.”

Pakistan won the Twenty20 World Cup last month in England and the shortest format of the game is becoming increasingly  popular in the country.