The list of players demanding the ouster of ODI cricket from the ICC calendar is growing every passing day.
The latest to weigh his opinion on the 50-over format is legendary seamer Wasim Akram.
Speaking on Michael Vaughan’s podcast, he said, “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.”
He added, “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.”
Earlier, Aakash Chopra and Ravichandran Ashwin had also demanded scrapping off ODI entirely since the format is becoming boring.
While the viewers argue that Ashwin’s and Chopra’s comments were biased as they haven’t had much success in ODIs.
Although what’s worth noting is that Akram is the legend of the format. In his 356 ODI appearances, he took 502 wickets, the most by any fast bowler. Thus, his comments are an eye opener for ICC.
The debate over ODI intensified after Ben Stokes prioritised T20I and Test over it and announced his retirement from the 50-over game.
“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,” said the former Pakistan cricketer.
He further admitted to Test being his favourite format and reasoned why ODI is becoming obsolete as a viewer.
He said, “They are doing it just for the sake of doing it. After the first 10 overs, it’s just ‘OK, just go a run a ball, get a boundary, four fielders in and you get to 200, 220 in 40 overs’ and then have a go last 10 overs. Another 100. It’s kind of run-of-the-mill.”