Pakistani bowling legend Wasim Akram thinks ODI cricket has now become “everyday” stuff and wants the game’s administrators to scrap the format for good. Akram’s comments came close on the heels of the sudden retirement of English all-rounder Ben Stokes from ODIs, sparking some serious debate about the existence of 50-over cricket.
“I think so (ODIs should be dropped). In England you have full houses. In India, Pakistan especially, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, one day cricket you are not going to fill the stadiums,” he said in Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
“They just do it to do it. After the first 10 overs it’s just ‘OK, just go run a ball, hit a boundary, four outfielders in and you’ll get 200, 220 in 40 overs’ and then try the last 10 overs. Another 100. It’s a bit mundane.” Akram supported Stokes’ decision to quit ODIs, citing “unsustainable” workloads.
“He (Stokes) who decides to retire from one-day cricket is pretty sad, but I agree with him,” said the left-arm pacer, who scalped 502 wickets in 356 ODIs during his career, in addition to bowling from Pakistan to the win in the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final.
“Even as a commentator… a one-day cricket is just a drag now, especially after T20. I can imagine it as a player. 50 overs, 50 overs, then you have to pre-game, post-game, the lunch game,” added the cricketer turned commentator.
Akram said the 50-over game has no future for the ever-expanding T20 format.
“T20 is a bit easier, four hours is the game over. The leagues around the world, there is a lot more money – I suppose this is an essential part of modern cricket. T20 or Test cricket. One day cricket is kind of die.
“It’s quite tiring for a player to play one-day cricket. After T20, one-day cricket seems to be going on for days. So players focus on a shorter format. And a longer format of course (with) Test cricket,” he said.
For Akram, Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game for a player.
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“There’s a struggle in the fight in Test cricket. I’ve always preferred Test matches. It used to be a fun day, but Test matches were where you were recognized as a player…where people still choose you for the XIs of the world,” he said.
“Okay, money is important – I understand where they come from – but they also need to remember if they want to be recognized as one of the greats of the game.” Akram also called on the game’s administrators to consider a complete overhaul of the overall schedule.
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