 cycle.){kind=link}
In a time when cricket seems to be sprinting faster than ever, Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan has taken a firm stand for the longest format of the game.
Speaking during the ongoing Skills Development Camp at the National Cricket Academy, Sajid made it crystal clear that heโs not in favour of the proposed four-day Test matches in the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
โI donโt think four-day Tests are good for the game,โ Sajid said. โIf you reduce Tests to four days, more matches will end in draws, and fans wonโt enjoy that.โ
The Soul of Test Cricket
Sajid Khan is not just echoing nostalgia, heโs pointing towards a very real concern. The beauty of Test cricket lies in its ebbs and flows, the way momentum shifts across five days, testing not just skills but patience, resilience, and tactical depth.
โTest cricket is not just about results; itโs about patience, strategy, and the ebb and flow over five days. Taking that away means taking away its soul,โ he added.
With the ICC reportedly mulling over the introduction of four-day Tests for the 2027โ2029 WTC cycle, citing tight schedules and the need to give smaller nations more opportunities, the debate has once again come to life.
The Big Three Exception
Interestingly, the โBig Threeโ (India, England and Australia) are set to continue playing the traditional five-day format in marquee series like The Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the newly announced Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
For other nations though, the clock may tick faster. This isnโt entirely uncharted territory either. The ICC allowed four-day Tests back in 2017, and just this May, England hosted Zimbabwe for a four-day red-ball contest at Trent Bridge.
But for players like Sajid Khan, this potential shift feels more like a step backwards than a step forward.
A Voice from the Camp
While voicing his concern, Sajid also took time to praise the current red-ball skills camp, where senior and junior players are training side by side under the guidance of seasoned coaches.
โWorking with Azhar Mahmood has been really beneficial, especially with a red-ball series in England coming up,โ he said. โThereโs a lot to learn from him.โ
The camp, designed to bridge experience gaps and refine technical skills, is proving to be a valuable initiative. Sajid believes itโs a solid foundation ahead of a challenging overseas tour.
Final Thoughts
Thereโs no denying that cricket is evolving, from T10 leagues to World Cups every other year, the calendar is bursting at the seams.
But the argument for retaining five-day Tests is more than just about tradition. It’s about preserving the integrity and richness of the format that defines cricketโs character.
Stay tuned toย Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.