ICC should stipulate minimum number of Tests per year: Dhoni

Indian skipper was all for popularising Test cricket and mooted the proposal of fixing a minimum number of Test matches per year.

Neither Virender Sehwag,the man who had a strange sense of foresight about the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch,nor the man who was involved in deliberations over what eventually happened,Mahendra Singh Dhoni,were willing to comment any further on the abandoned ODI on Sunday. It was the first match which I played and got abandoned. ICC officials will discuss and take a decision, Dhoni said.

But the Indian skipper was more than willing to provide ideas to the ICC for popularising Test cricket and mooted the proposal of fixing a minimum number of Test matches per year,urging boards to increase the number of Tests in bilateral series.

We can have a minimum number of Test matches annually. In a years span there could be a minimum number of Tests and one-dayers to play. And after that,if institutions like ECB and BCCI think they have to play more Tests,its welcome, Dhoni said,highlighting the Indian boards efforts to include two more Tests against South Africa to increase their chances of remaining on top of Test ratings. India,who recently,became the No 1 Test team are slated to play only two Test matches against Bangladesh in the next 11 months.

It is difficult to have a specific formula as it all depends on the FTP (Future Tours Programme) which is fixed three-five years before and different nations play different number of Test matches. But we can have a minimum number, he added.

Dhoni,however,took a guarded stance on the concept of day-night Test matches that are seen as a way to infuse more interest in five-day cricket. Its difficult to answer about day-night Test matches. Its a pro-active step being taken. We will have to see how the fans respond. We will have to wait, he said.

No overkill

Dhoni also brushed aside the claim that theres an overkill of cricket. I think we are playing the same amount of cricket which we have been playing in the last eight years. Only Twenty20 matches have come up since the launch of the Indian Premier League.

The BCCI also says that if you need rest,you can opt out (of a series). Its a big decision. And players can be rotated. And if somebody has a niggle he can be rested so that that niggle do not convert into an injury, he said on the sidelines of launching his individual website,along with Sehwag,Harbhajan and Ishant.

Story continues below this ad

Sehwag,meanwhile,cited how own example to state that Ishant would soon force his way into the national team and a dip in form is temporary. This time comes in the life of every cricketer. I was also dropped in 2007. He (Ishant) He will play a few Ranji matches and I am sure he will make a comeback, he said.