Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that the T20 International matches be restricted to World Cups every two years to create a bigger window for franchise tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL). He said that T20s should only be played in World Cups.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Shastri also said that the ICC should consider scrapping the T20I bilateral series to give more time to franchise T20 tournaments. In the future, there could be two IPL seasons in a year, he said.
Shastri, who was India coach for the 2021 T20 World Cup, claimed no one remembers bilateral tournaments. He suggested that cricket should go the football way, where club competitions are more prevalent and international matches largely played in big tournaments like the World Cup.
Read Also: Rashid Khan names the Indian youngster whom he finds difficult to bowl
Shastri backed his opinion by saying that people don’t remember bilateral series thus cricket should go the football way and focus more on franchise tournaments, with international T20 games being played in World Cups. Each country is allowed to have their franchise cricket, which is their domestic cricket, and then, every two years, come and play a World Cup, he explained.
Speaking on the suggestion of two IPL seasons in a year, Shastri said that’s the future. It could be tomorrow – 140 games, split 70-70. The people are no more interested in bilateral T20I series, he said.
Daniel Vettori, Ian Bishop and Aakash Chopra were discussing about the future of the Indian Premier League with Shastri at the end of IPL 2022 which was featured 10 teams and 74 matches, spread over 65 days. They all agreed that the IPL was likely to get bigger.
The broadcasting rights of IPL are going to go up for sale in June for the next five-year and the value of the property is expected to increase massively. This comes even as sponsors have been unenthused by the fall in IPL viewership this year due to the bad performance by marquee teams like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, among many others.
LPG cylinder price slashed by Rs 135, check rates of 19 kg and 14 kg cylinders in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and other cities
Global Day of Parents: Quotes from parents to kids on first day of school