“There is no question of shrinking Tests to four days, I don’t like it. I agree with those who have been supporting five-day Tests. To be honest, I want to play Test cricket for five, six, seven days or as much as I can. I don't think it should be changed to four days,” Mushfiqur said while interacting with the media after the final of just-concluded Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.
“We have noticed many Tests ended after the Tea of the fifth day. There will be no chance of it if we start four-day Tests. Test cricket should always be a five-day format,” Mushfiqur added.
Before Mushfiqur, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon and Indian captain Virat Kohli were among the international stars who have opposed the idea.
Australian stalwart Nathan Lyon also said he is not a fan of the idea of four-day Tests. He told media: “Five days are the ultimate Tests. We have gone through a rare period where we have been able to win Tests in four days. But it’s quite rare. We may not have seen the results we saw in England [during the 2019 Ashes] without the extra day. It plays a lot with the wicket and brings spin into play, so I would like to see it stay as five days,” as Lyon was quoted by the Guardian.
Indian captain Virat Kohli said the intent of the idea of four-day Test will not be right because after a certain time people might start to come up with the idea of three-day Tests.
Indian captain said: “I think the intent will not be right then because you will then speak of three-day Tests. Where do you end? Then you will speak of Test cricket disappearing. I don't think that's fair to the purest format of the game. How cricket started initially, five-day Test matches were the highest test you can have at international level. It shouldn't be altered,” as Virat was quoted by the BBC.