T20 won’t hurt Tests, ODIs: Hanif

Hanif Muhammad does not think the IPL would in any way harm the traditional Test and ODI cricket.

Despite predictions from doomsayers, former Pakistan captain Hanif Muhammad does not think the Indian Premier League would in any way harm the traditional bastions of the sport – Tests and one-day cricket.

Unlike several ex-players who have expressed apprehension that the BCCI-backed Twenty20 extravaganza might eventually damage the longer formats of the game, Hanif said it would only increase the popularity of cricket.

“When they introduced one-day cricket, I remember initially same sort of apprehensions were expressed by players. But while one-dayers did decrease the popularity of Test cricket to an extent, it still remains the main form of the game and challenge for the players,” he told PTI.

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Hanif, dubbed as the ‘Little Master’ for his ability to play marathon innings such as his historic 337 against the West Indies in 1956-57, said the IPL was already a big boost to players’ income and was also presenting cricket as a global sport.

“Twenty20 cricket is a sport and entertainment package wrapped into one and is allowing players to earn good money and also increasing the coffers of the boards. So I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Hanif said. More PTI COR TUS TUS 04241818 DEL SPORT IPL HANIF 2 LAST Hanif said IPL and even the rival Indian Cricket League’s Twenty20 matches were ideal for the public.

“This form of the game allows office-going people to finish their work and then come to the stadium with their friends and families to have a good time and enjoy watching some spectacular cricket,” he said.

The legendary batsman said the demands of Twenty20 cricket would initially hurt the technique of players but very soon, they would adjust themselves to all forms of the game.

“This also happened when one-day cricket started.

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Initially, batsmen struggled to adjust back to Test cricket but then learnt to cope with the demands of both forms of the game.” However, he said administrators needed to be careful not to kill the hen that lays the golden egg.

“Too much of something can be disastrous for everyone.

The ICC and its boards need to now seriously review the Future Tours Programme and find a permanent window for the IPL once a year for say a month. Anything more than that would fizzle out the interest in Twenty20 cricket very soon,” Hanif said.