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Powerplay has made ODIs more interesting, says Akram

By Staff


Islamabad, Nov 20 : Former Pakistan ODI captain Wasim Akram has said that the ICC's new experiment of allowing batting teams choose when to take the powerplay has rekindled interest in one-dayers as well.

Akram said the game's governing body will have to keep innovating new formulas to keep the fans' interest alive in Test and ODI cricket at a time when T20 seems to have captured the imagination of the younger generation.

"The ICC's rule change regarding powerplays has brought interest back in ODIs. It has made the game a lot more interesting and allowed the batting team to plan out the innings," The News quoted Akram as saying in an interview.

He added: "The packed stadiums in the first two one-dayers in the series between India and England show that there is interest for ODIs. The ICC has to find ways to keep the interest alive." He added that T20 became an instant hit because people have less time these days. "It is a very good package. You get all the action in three hours, so it is bound to appeal to the spectators," he added.

Akram, one of the finest left-arm seamers the world has seen with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets to his credit, said the absence of crowds in Test matches is worrying but it is still too early to say that the longer format of the game was dying.

"Test cricket is the ultimate. It is the real test for the players. I think the interest for Test cricket will remain because everybody realises its importance," he said.

In reply to a question whether the priorities of the players were also changing with the advent of the cash-rich T20 leagues, Akram said playing for the country had always remained the priority for the players.

ANI
Story first published: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 16:36 [IST]
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