The future of one-dayers

Twenty20 could upstage ODIs - Dravid

Nagraj Gollapudi

June 5, 2008

	Dravid hoped Twenty20's increasing popularity doesn't jeopardise the future of Test cricket © Getty Images

Rahul Dravid, the former Indian captain, felt one-day cricket will be the sore loser especially in the aftermath of Twenty20 cricket's tremendous success worldwide. He said the busy international schedule could force the number of one-dayers to be reduced.

"There is a limited amount of time. Twenty20 cricket is popular now so something has to give", Dravid said at a discussion forum organised to unveil the Castrol Asian Cricket awards, to be announced during the Asia Cup in Pakistan which starts this month. Dravid, Wasim Akram and Sanath Jayasuriya are part of the panel that will oversee the process that will pick the winners in various categories.

Dravid, who captained the Bangalore Royal Challengers during the Indian Premier League (IPL), said he understood the decision to hold the Twenty20 World Cup every two years and the IPL once a year. But he hoped Test cricket would not be severely affected. "The number of one-day games might get reduced," he said. "I hope they don't reduce Test matches, too."

Asked if Asia could match its strong financial muscle with on-field cricketing prowess, all three had no doubt the subcontinent would soon rise to become the undisputed superpower.

Akram, the former Pakistan captain, felt India could dominate through on-field performances too. "India could well rule the world in the next few years," Akram said. Jayasuriya said though the Asian nations have the talent, the challenge lies in channeling this talent in the right direction. "We are the financial powerhouse of cricket. Now we need the support to direct the talent in the right direction."

Dravid's view was more circumspect. "Just because we have the opportunities it doesn't mean we will rule the world. Opportunities have always been there. The challenge is to harness the talent. The number of off-shore events that you had earlier in 50-overs cricket might be reduced to accommodate a few more Twenty20 tournaments or Twenty20 World Cup every two years, or the IPL every year or some other tournament."

Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

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