Posted on : 29-04-2010 | By : India Current Affairs | In : Sports
Fifty over matches are under attack once again. The English Board has already scrapped this longer version of limited over cricket in its domestic matches. The demand to do away with fifty over matches popularly known as one day matches has gained more support in the wake of commercial success of Indian Premier League. This time, the proposal to say a final farewell to ODI ‘ has come from person no less than Sachin Tendulkar.
The legendary Indian batsman suggested that fifty over one day internationals should be replaced by much shorter version of limited over cricket. He suggests that fifty over matches should be substituted by four innings of each 2 5 overs. Obviously the demand from world’s best batsman alive has sparked off intense debate in the cricketing parlons. The ICC which is responsible for managing international cricket said that it would consider the future of one day matches after the 2011 World cup. The shorter versions of limited over matches have greater audience appeal. At a time when cricket has become a televised phenomenon, shorter version of limited over cricket makes perfect entertainment on the small screen. More so Cricket is increasingly getting competition from shorter games like Football. To sustain the audience interest in the game such a change is inevitable, argues those who are in favour of doing away with one Day version of cricket. Infact, one day international used to be 60 over matches until 1983 world cup in which India under the leadership of Kapil Dev registered historic win. Since 1987, it has been reduced to fifty overs. With the commercial success of 20-20 matches the demand to further reduce the overs in the limited over cricket has once again come to fore. It is true that change is required in any sport as the audience tastes change. But, the question remains, as KapilDev puts it, should that change be so fast and so sweeping. It took more than 100 years for the test cricket to get modified into One day cricket. Still, test cricket did not disappear. It again took 35 years for the limited over cricket to evolve into much shorter version in the form of 20-20 cricket. But, still, One Day International continues to attract crowds and earn revenue for the BCCI and ICC. Infact all forms of Cricket should coexist if one has to produce good and enduring cricket. There is no evidence of declining audience interest in One Day Cricket.
We cannot create a good One Day player without exposing him to Test Cricket. Similarly we can not create a good 20-20 player without experience in one day cricket. You cannot kill the game itself in the name of change. The 20-20 version has transformed the game into a big Tamasha. It converted cricket into cricketainment sacrificing sporting talent at the altar of entertainment and brazen commercialism. Cricket has become big business and cricketers became thriving entrepreneurs. Cricketing bodies and individual cricketers are becoming richer as cricket is getting poorer.
Change has to come. But, the pace with which it should come is a matter of concern. Don’t kill cricket for the sake of money. Today cricket is like a religion in countries like India. It is the most popular game after Football in the world today.
Infact, the 20-20 version is likely to encourage betting and match fixing as there is lot of suspense and commotion in such a game. Professional cricket will be replaced by fluke players. The 20-20 version will also kill the ability of the player. One version cannot be a substitute for the other. Let all the versions of cricket be allowed to prosper.
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