Aakash Chopra contradicts Ravi Shastri’s suggestion of suspending T20I series

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has shown disagreement towards Ravi Shastri's proposal of getting away with the bilateral T20I series. Recently, the former Indian head coach reckoned that the players play enough shortest format of the game in the form of the T20 leagues.

Shastri wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) to drop the T20I bilateral series and focus more on ODIs and the Test format. The veteran all-rounder also proposed the idea of playing the T20Is only during the World Cups.

However, Shastri's proposal didn't go well with Chopra as he echoed contrasting sentiments. 

The former right-handed batter is of the opinion that the 50-over format is slowly dying as it neither pleases the broadcasters nor the fans. He believes that the end of the ODI format is near in the international circuit. 

"If you see the interest levels, keeping the Tests aside as everything is not commercialization, I feel ODI cricket is the most boring contest. It is the most meaningless; it is the format that no one remembers.

"It is the format where neither the broadcasters nor the fans enjoy, that's ODI cricket, and there are multiple reasons for that. In 50-over cricket, the 30 overs in the middle are neither a Test nor T20. ODI is not a format that is going to keep you engaged for too long," the cricketer turned commentator explained while speaking on his Youtube Channel.

Elaborating on his opinion, Chopra mentioned that the T20I bilateral series is important to please the broadcasters and ensure good financial conditions for the cricket board across the world. 

"I think ODI cricket is struggling, it is not the T20I cricket that is struggling. Let T20 internationals continue because the broadcasters will need them else, they won't give you the money. 

"I feel T20 internationals should continue because if you play T20 cricket at the international level just once in two years, there will be no time for you to actually prepare for that world event," the 44-year-old concluded.