London, June 4 -- Archetype of the modern T20 revolution and former Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi has issued a stark ultimatum regarding the survival of cricket's longest format. He warned that traditional, bilateral red-ball series are on an absolute path to extinction unless radical commercial interventions are introduced to recapture global audiences.

Speaking to ANI in London, the 62-year-old sports administrator argued that franchise-driven models are no longer just an alternative, but the necessary lifeline needed to subsidise and sustain Test cricket's heritage.

"I am saying that Test matches on bilateral will die," Lalit Modi stated bluntly. "The next prediction of mine is that now they should allow IPL-type (T...