Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram wants ODI cricket to be scrapped permanently. He believes that the format has become “run-of-the-mill” and should be done away with. His comments have come on the backdrop of England all-rounder Ben Stokes announcing his retirement from ODI cricket to manage his workload. Stokes’ decision has fired up the scheduling debate in world cricket, with some suggesting that the bilateral ODIs should be scrapped.
Speaking on The Telegraph’s Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast, Wasim Akram expressed that the ODI format no longer attracts crowds to the stadiums. He stated that the format is just a “drag” after the evolution of T20 cricket and needs to be done away with. Akram added that even as a commentator he finds ODI cricket too long and prefers the other two main formats.
“I think so (ODIs should be scrapped),” said Wasim Akram.
“Him (Ben Stokes) deciding that he is retiring from one-day cricket is quite sad but I agree with him. Even as a commentator … one-day cricket is just a drag now, especially after T20. I can imagine as a player. 50 overs, 50 overs, then you have to pre-game, post-game, the lunch game, added Akram.
Wasim Akram said, "ODI format should be scrapped permanently, it's just a drag on". (To Telegraph).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 21, 2022
T20 is kind of easier, four hours the game is over: Wasim Akram
Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram further expressed that the emphasis should be on Test and T20 formats going forward. He stated that the T20 format is easier as it’s just a four-hour game, and hence players prefer playing T20s over ODI. The former pacer said,
“T20 is kind of easier, four hours the game is over. The leagues all around the world, there is a lot more money. I suppose this is part and parcel of modern cricket. T20 or Test cricket. One-day cricket is kind of dying. It is quite tiring for a player to play one-day cricket. After T20, one-day cricket seems it is going on for days. So players are focussing on a shorter format. And longer format obviously (with) Test cricket.”
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