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ODIs need rule changes: Akram

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes one-day cricket will need to undergo some changes for it to survive in the wake of the rising popularity of the Twenty20 format.

Akram said he, at times, got bored watching 50-over matches in the middle stages and there was a definite need to bring about changes in the rules to revive one-day cricket and make it more exciting and watchable.

“Twenty20 cricket is gaining popularity because it is exciting and is aimed at the younger generation who want to watch high class sport in three to four hours,” Akram said.

“Twenty20 cricket is good for the future of the game, but at the same time it is not quality cricket. It is simply entertainment. And to protect the real competition like one-dayers or Test matches, the ICC needs to think about revolutionary rule changes.”

Akram said the idea of Test cricket under lights was not a bad one and could be worked out if given proper thought.

He said that the DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) was a good idea but the credit for launching this sort of tournament should be given to the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

“I think the Indian Board started working on the IPL after the ICL. I know this much that these events mean good money for players and will entertain the crowds, but they are also going to damage traditional cricket in the long run. How much only time will tell,” the former left-arm paceman said.

Akram said he was happy the players were being paid well.

“I think the Boards of different countries should also think about raising the pay packages of their players or else we will have a situation where players might opt to give preference to the private Twenty20 leagues,” he said. — PTI

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