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) board agreed unanimously to appoint former India captain and spin bowler Anil Kumble as ICC Cricket Committee chairman. Kumble, who took 619 Test and 337 One-Day International wickets, succeeds former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd in the role.

The ICC Board also agreed to extend the terms of both Mark Taylor (representing former players) and David Kendix (statisticians) for a further term.

Ian Bishop (representing former players) indicated that he was not seeking an extension to his term and the ICC Board unanimously supported the nomination of former England captain Andrew Strauss as his replacement.

ICC president Alan Isaac said, "In Anil Kumble, we have a new chairman who has unquestioned experience not only as a player with India but also as an administrator with Karnataka State Cricket Association. I am sure that he will carry on Clive?s good work and bring, like Andrew Strauss, contemporary thinking to the committee and both understand clearly the issues facing the modern game."

The ICC introduced a Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (Tapp) fund of $12 million in January 2012 to help develop more competitive teams at the highest level by targeting the lower ranked full members and higher ranked Associate/Affiliate Members for assistance.

The board had previously received applications and made awards to Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland at their June meeting.

In Colombo the board received applications and agreed to award Netherlands $1.5 million, Zimbabwe $1.5 million and $3 million to the West Indies - all over three years. Cricket Canada also made an application and were asked to resubmit next year.