Lahore, January 02: Contradicting the popular perception that T20s will spell the death knell of Test cricket, swashbuckling all-rounder Shahid Afridi today asserted that the 20-over game has proved to be beneficial for the traditional form of the sport.
”I would say T20 cricket has introduced a more positive attitude in players and led to Tests also being played more aggressively and being more result oriented,” Afridi said. ”What we need to do is strike the right balance in our teams for all three formats of the sport,” he added. Afridi urged the selectors to develop the national teams according to the abilities of different players.
”Already we have certain players who are Test specialists including Yousuf himself, then they are players who are specialists for the limited overs cricket and in the third category they are players who are adjust in all three forms of the sport. ”It would not be a bad idea if we can build our Test, ODI and T20 teams according to this policy. We need to groom and develop our players accordingly,” he stated. The national Twenty20 captain, who had earlier announced that he wants to concentrate on ODIs and T20 cricket until the 2011 World Cup, stated that he would not be averse to joining the Test squad if called upon by the team management or the selectors.
”I would be willing to sacrifice my contract with South Australia if the team needed by services in the Test matches,” Afridi asserted.
–Agencies