One-day cricket is kind of dying: Pakistan legend Wasim Akram opens up on Ben Stokes' ODI retirement

One of the most feared and charismatic fast bowlers during the 90s and early 2000s, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram observed that ODI cricket is just a drag now and also urged authorities to scrap this format. His statement came in the wake of England all-rounder Ben Stokes' retirement from the 50-over-format. The former left-arm fast bowler also supported Stokes' decision to bid adieu to ODI cricket.

While speaking on the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast, Akram asserted that ODIs have lost their relevance in the era of T20 cricket and there are not many takers for this format.

"It is quite tiring for a player to play one-day cricket. After T20, one-day cricket seems to be going for days. So players are focussing more on the shorter format. And a longer format obviously [with] Test cricket," Akram said.


The Pakistan legend added that authorities should think about doing away with the 50-over format as not many people watch ODI games these days. "I think so. In England, you have full houses. In India, Pakistan especially, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, one-day cricket you are not going to fill the stadiums," Akram added.

India will host the next 50-over World Cup in 2023.

“They are doing it just for the sake of doing it. After the first 10 overs, it’s just ‘OK, just go a run a ball, get a boundary, four fielders in and you get to 200, 220 in 40 overs’ and then have a go last 10 overs. Another 100. It’s kind of run-of-the-mill,” the former Pakistan skipper added.

Meanwhile, Akram lauded Test cricket and said that the longest format of the game is his favourite as it tests the full potential of a player.

“There’s a battle within the battle in Test cricket,” he said. “I always preferred Test matches. One-day used to be fun but Test matches were where you were recognised as a player where people still pick you for the world XIs. OK money matters - I understand where they are coming from - but they should also remember if they want to be recognised as one of the greats of the game,” said Akram.