New Delhi, September 17: Bowling great Wasim Akram and former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar today warned International Cricket Council against rushing with Sachin Tendulkar”s idea of splitting the 50-over format, saying such a far-reaching decision should not be taken in haste. Amid debate that post-Twenty20, one-day cricket is on its deathbed and Tendulkar”s idea of splitting it into two innings of 25 overs each could be the answer to the crisis, both Akram and Manjrekar said ICC should not rush with it.
R C Venkateish, Managing Director of ESPN Software India Private Limited, chipped in with data to prove that ODI popularity has not really dipped as feared. “This is just another idea, which was actually suggested in the past as well.
So it”s surely not a bolt from the blue. But ODI has been hugely successful concept and to change it, ICC has to give it a lot of thought.
When you plan to alter such a successful product, you have to be careful,” Manjrekar said here today. Akram vaguely remembers playing one such two-innings 50-over match and did not sound impressed.
“I played one in 2000-01 and it was a different experience. I think ICC should try it at the club or domestic level and see how it goes before trying to implement it at the international level,” said the former Pakistan captain.
Venkateish said despite Twenty20”s growing popularity, ODIs continued to enjoy corporate backing. .
—Agencies