MUMBAI: Concerned about Test matches being "postponed" to accommodate other formats, the ICC Cricket Committee has recommended that a team?s failure to play a minimum number of five-day games over a four-year period should lead to the withdrawal of its Test status.

Chaired for the first time by former India captain Anil Kumble, who takes over from former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, the committee met in Dubai on Thursday.

"Noting the examples during the year where Test matches had been postponed to make room for other formats of the game, the committee recommended that all Test playing members should be required to play a minimum number of Test matches over a four-year period in order to maintain their Test status," the ICC said in a statement.

The committee reiterated its support for the strategy of ensuring an "optimum balance and a clear differentiation between the three formats of the game".

It also noted the need to ensure that Test cricket, in particular, was protected.

"The Committee also supported the concept of a Test play-off event as the climax to a qualification period of bilateral FTP matches with the ICC Reliance Test Rankings being used to determine the qualifiers for this event," the release stated.

Among other issues, the committee discussed the impact of changes made to the one-day playing conditions.

"The committee reviewed the impact of the recent changes to the standard ODI playing conditions, namely the restriction of four fieldsmen being allowed outside the circle during non-powerplay overs, the introduction of two bouncers per over, the abolishment of the bowling powerplay and the introduction of two new balls."

MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has signed Sports News Television (SNTV), Perform and Reuters News as distributors for next month?s Champions Trophy.

The deals ensure that news broadcasters around the world will have access to news highlights from matches, press conferences, player interviews and event-related stories, providing up-to-the-minute information to a billion viewers all over the world.

ICC Commercial GM Campbell Jamieson said, "The ICC has had long-standing relationships with SNTV and Reuters News. We are pleased that both have agreed to continue this relationship for the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, as they have excellent distribution and global reach."

He added, "We also welcome back Perform as an ICC news access licensee, following up on our agreement for the ICC World Twenty20 last year. Perform?s multi-platform daily sports news service Omnisport will further add to the distribution and reach of the event."

"These partnerships will ensure that news broadcasters and, through them, cricket fans around the world, will have access to match highlights and other event news", he ended.

SNTV managing editor Andy Parkinson said, "SNTV is delighted to once again be working closely with the ICC and look forward to supplying our clients with the best action from the Champions Trophy."

Reuters News Global TV sports editor Claire Watson said, "Interest in sports crosses geographic borders and media platforms, so it is important to us to provide action highlights across all broadcast and online platforms globally, and with the ICC deal, we can do this."

Perform MD content distribution Ross MacEacharn said, "We are pleased to again be supporting the ICC in its ambitions to bring the premier international cricket tournament of the year to a global audience. Our unique perspective to distributing content in any format across any platform and localised to each market will ensure the ICC reaches global audiences through both traditional and new media channels."