Twenty20 a big hit with Akram

Lahore, Sep 22 (UNI) Terming the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup a 'hit', former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said the ongoing championship has overshadowed the Caribbean World Cup and has the potential to replace one-day internationals in future.

''Twenty20 cricket already has the potential to replace the ODIs as the most popular version of the sport,'' Akram said.

''The World Twenty20 has been a big success in terms of the interest it has evoked and people are coming in to the grounds. You didn't get such big crowds and excitement even in the World Cup in West Indies,'' he added.

The 41-year-old former left-arm pacer also said that now-a-days he finds ODIs to be charmless and predictable.

''For a cricket lover it is the ideal format. The match finishes in around three and half hours and there is plenty of excitement and tension for the spectators and viewers.

''To me one-dayers have tended to become boring and predictable,'' Akram was quoted as saying by 'The News'.

However, the cricketer-turned commentator was of the view that Test cricket is real cricket and the nascent version of the game could never be seen as a challenge to the traditional formant.

''Test cricket will always remain the real cricket for the players and purist fans around the globe. It can never be replaced.

Even the advent of ODIs didn't affect its popularity and following,'' said the mercurial bowler.

UNI