'There is no blueprint for cricket’s future'- Ian Chappell

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Legendary Australian captain Ian Chappell has opined that a debate on international cricket's long-term future and the number of formats it can possibly sustain should have been held long back but believes it's still not too late.

With the steady proliferation of franchise T20 leagues, the future of international white-ball cricket, especially the 50-over format, has come under heavy scrutiny following the recent retirement of Ben Stokes.

In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell said that cricket has evolved over the years due to changing demands of the consumer but the administrators have failed in charting out a blueprint for the games' long-term future.

"Debate on this subject should have been held long ago. It’s not too late now but the list of attendees has grown, given the relative strength of the women’s game, and the substantial influence of climate change."

“Playing styles have changed drastically in a few decades and still there is no blueprint for cricket’s future. Much as it did during the World Series Cricket (WSC) insurrection of the 1970s, the administration lurches ahead, driven mainly by knee-jerk reaction," added the veteran cricketer-turned pundit.

“The WSC insurrection was over pay and conditions but it was the 50-over game that eventually prospered. Now T20 is the headline format, with Test cricket receiving occasional favourable mentions from players,” he added.


''T10 should be regarded as overdoing the entertainment quotient'' - Ian Chappell

The former batter further added that any discussion regarding the promotion or expansion of the game should be done while keeping men and women players in loop.

"Any positive promotion of the game should be done hand in hand with the players, and this includes women cricketers,” Chappell added.

image-l69fpn6dHarmanpreet playing a sweep during CWG fixture vs AUS

Chappell believes that any decision regarding cricket's future pathway should be taken keeping in mind the game's history.

“T20 grew rapidly on the back of supposed stagnation in 50-overs cricket. This raises the question of what happens if fans become bored with the 20-over game.

Chappell further reckoned that adding T10 as an international format will be 'overdoing entertainment quotient' on ICC's part and that professional players should not embrace it.

"Cricket is already dabbling with T10 leagues and it’s not hard to imagine the game embracing more of that format. T10 should be regarded as overdoing the entertainment quotient and not a format the professional players should embrace," Chappell said.

He signed off by stating that while T20 cricket is unfulfilling for a player but he understands the reasons behind them embracing it.

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