"The 10-year programme is too cramped," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

"To play countries four times, twice at home and twice away in that period, is too tough," he told a news conference after the board's two-day annual general meeting which raised concerns over the volume of matches played by Indian cricketers.

"Players are not getting any respite in between and are playing continuous cricket.

"It was decided by the board to request and represent to the ICC to have this programme spread over 12 to 14 years."

The current programme had forced India to play continuously for about 18 months until this year's World Cup, he said.

The ICC's Test programme was launched in February 2001 to help long-term planning and marketing of the game and provide more opportunities for weaker teams such as Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.