IPL overshadows Twenty20 World Cup: Morkel

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Claiming that IPL matches have been played with greater intensity than international matches, Chennai Super Kings' all-rounder Albie Morkel said the lucrtaive tournament has emerged a much bigger event than the Twenty20 World Cup.

''The Twenty20 World Cup was a first for me. I performed on a big arena and I really enjoyed that. I realized then I can perform against world class players. I feel the IPL is much bigger than the World Twenty20; the pressure, the crowds, the media is two times bigger than the T20 World Cup,'' Morkel said in an interview to cricketnirvana.com.

Morkel, who still has to play a Test match said the impact of the shorter format of the game on the longer version is still not clear but he was of the view that it might affect the 50-over game.

''I have not played Test cricket so I don't really know how it will impact the game. I don't think it will because it is more traditional. It might affect the fifty over game in the next couple of years because you get almost the same stuff in a Twenty20 and it is shorter.

''T20 gets the people to the ground, they come along for the atmosphere as it just comes alive with Twenty20,'' he added.

He also asserted that the new format of the game is very unpredictable and it is tilted towards the batsmen especially in Indian conditions.

''It is quite difficult for a bowler especially in Twenty20.

Also, in India the conditions are very good for batting. I don't put pressure on myself to perform. I just back my abilities as a player. If you put too much pressure on yourself to perform, you will become your own enemy!,'' he said.

Morkel also said the IPL is a great platform for youngsters to learn and achieve and added that it will be helpful for both the Indian as well as the foreign players.

''I think that the IPL is a great breeding ground for future national players. What you experience here you will experience in any International game. So, it is especially good for the young Indian players to do well and make a mark. For the international players too, it is a good opportunity to make a name as this tournament as it is televised all over the World. If we do well here it could be very good for them,'' he concluded.

UNI RKM RAR ND1640