Former India captain and chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee Anil Kumble disagrees with the infamous proposal to mandate four-day Test cricket from the next cycle of Future Tours Programme (FTP) during 2023-31 period. 

The issue has had contrasting views about it, with former and current players strongly against it and people at the administrative level in cricket boards of England, Australia & co seeking a more "informed perspective" on the same.

Read Also: Virat Kohli strongly opposes the idea of four-day Test

"The sense of what I think about it is the players have given that. I mean, they don't want a four-day Test," Kumble said. "Five-day Test is what it is. And a Test it is because it is five days. If it was four days, it wouldn't be a Test. I am very clear on that."

"It was discussed a couple of years ago, but I don't think there's any progress made on taking a decision of a mandatory four-day Test. I don't think it has ever been done," the great Indian spinner added. 

"There was an experiment done with South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they played a four-day Test match. England played Ireland. I mean when you play Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe, maybe the boards have the wherewithal to go ahead and play a four-day Test."

It is believed by quite a few penurious cricket boards that the trimmed version of Test cricket would be less of a burden on their diminished wealth as it would prove to be a slightly more cost-efficient affair, especially if sold to broadcasters, sponsors from Thursdays to Sundays in the day-night version.

"It is just that you want more people to come and watch Test cricket from the stadium," Kumble said. "That isn't happening. But people who're sitting in this room are following what is happening in New Zealand - either through phones or messages coming through notifications. When people talk about Test cricket is dying, I don't think so."

"So, if we're following Test cricket why are we talking about it dying. Yes, people going to stadiums, spending five days, watching Test cricket - that may have come down. That experience needs to get better."

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)