15 Nov 2011

No ICC test championship until 2017

10:40 am on 15 November 2011

The International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has ruled out the possibility of holding an ICC World Test championship until 2017.

The game's governing body considered the Test championship between the top four teams in 2013 instead of the 50-over ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled for England, but Lorgat says the event isn't possible until 2017.

Lorgat says the delay is due to prior ICC commitments.

Lorgat says a Test championship would ensure the status of the longer version of the game, widely regarded as under threat from 50-over matches and now from more popular Twenty20 cricket.