MCC Call for Extended Mobile Ban

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has called for players to be banned from using mobile phones during televised domestic cricket matches.

The MCC's world cricket committee endorsed the measure in an effort to tackle the threat of corruption.

Currently only cricketers in international games are barred from using personal phones during games.

The committee also called on all international bodies to adopt the decision review system (DRS).

Committee members - including former England captain Michael Vaughan and ex-Australia captain Steve Waugh - praised the introduction of anti-corruption codes of conduct and player education across the game, but said more needed to be done.

"The MCC world cricket committee, like the ICC, is well aware of the risks of displacement by crooked fixers from international matches to domestic televised matches," said a statement from the MCC - the guardian of the game's laws.

"The committee calls for mobile phones to be banned in dressing rooms for all domestic televised matches."

DRS also featured in discussions which took place at Lord's earlier in the week.

While the technology has been embraced by many national bodies, some cricket boards including India oppose its introduction. Test matches featuring India are often played without the referral system.

"[The MCC] hopes that the time will not be too far away when all countries will agree to its use, at which point a sponsor could be sought to support the costs," the statement read.

A number of other changes in cricket were discussed, including the proposed introduction of day-night Test cricket. The committee approved of the concept and stated that the use of the controversial pink ball, as opposed to red or white, is required.

The committee also pledged to gather together more opinion from within the sport on the innovative "switch hit" batting shot, and how its creation poses challenges for fielding sides and umpires.

The importance of Test cricket relative to the Twenty20 form of the game was also reiterated.

"However, the appeal of Test cricket will be lessened if the conflict with domestic T20 competitions is too stark," the committee warned. "It is also threatened by small crowds and by players who are relatively poorly paid for Test cricket."

MCC Plans Afghan Tour

The MCC is planning on sending a team to Afghanistan in the near future, but has ruled out touring Pakistan.

There has been no international cricket in Pakistan since the fatal attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009.

MCC president Phillip Hodson told BBC Test Match Special: "I think there is much more chance of taking a team to Afghanistan than there is to Pakistan.

"I think we could do something in Afghanistan and I don't think it will be long away."

Afghanistan is an emerging nation in world cricket and cemented a place at the 2012 World Twenty20 last week following a 47-run victory over Namibia.

"I am going to Afghanistan to look at Kabul and the cricket pitches we have put in," added Hodson.

Neighbouring country Pakistan, however, has been starved of international cricket since gunmen opened fire on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore that left six police officers and a driver dead, and several players and officials injured.

In December, the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed confidence that international cricket could return to the country in 2012.

Hodson, who was watching England's first Test against Sri Lanka, also revealed he was worried about the amount of cricket being played.

He said: "I think Test cricket is much more interesting than Twenty20 cricket, but I think Twenty20 cricket plays a huge part financially in the game as long as we don't overdo it.

"I think there is a danger of overkill. I do worry about burnout of players - they play an awful lot."

The MCC president also gave his backing to the controversial pink ball, used for the first time in a day-night match between Glamorgan and Kent, but believes it will be more useful overseas than in England.

"Will the pink ball benefit overseas night-time cricket? I think it will," he said.

"The pink ball is a great initiative - the Australians are fairly positive. But the quality of the pink ball is key."

MCC's touring teams typically comprise a clutch of former professional players alongside promising club cricketers.