Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has criticised the scheduling of bilateral T20I matches and feels that the ICC should rather concentrate on taking the game to more countries across the globe and make it an Olympic event rather than increasing the number of T20 bilateral matches. “I would like to see less and less bilateral T20 cricket,” Shastri was quoted as saying during an exclusive interview with the Guardian.
Making a comparison with football where the footballers play club football through the air besides playing a few friendlies here and there. Barring that they only compete in the Euro Cup, World Cup, Copa America or the African’s Cup and the qualification events for the same.
“Look at football. You have the Premier League, the Spanish league, the Italian league, the German league. They all come together [for the Champions League]. There are few bilateral football [friendlies] now. The national teams only play for the World Cup or World Cup qualifying [and other major tournaments like the European Championships, Copa America and the Africa Cup of Nations].
I think that’s the way T20 cricket should go. Spread the game in different countries, and take it to the Olympics. But cut down on those bilateral games and give time for the players to rest, recuperate and play Test cricket,” Shastri added.
India have a very successful time in the bilateral T20I series in the last few years. Under the tenure of Ravi Shastri, India whitewashed Australia and New Zealand in their own backyard. However, Shastri doesn’t care about the results of this bilateral series. All he looks for is to win Test matches and win global events like the World Cup or the T20 World Cup which has eluded him and skipper Virat Kohli.
Shastri said that all the players in the team are in the same page. Already playing nearly two months of franchise cricket, Shastri feels that emphasis should be rather given on multi-nation tournaments than bilateral matches.
“They all believe the same. There is enough franchised cricket. That is working. But what is the point of bilateral? In my seven years with this Indian team I don’t remember one white-ball game. If you win a World Cup final you will remember it and that’s the only thing left for me as a coach. Otherwise, you bloody cleaned up everything across the globe.
I don’t remember a single [white-ball] game. Test matches? I remember every ball. Everything. But the volume is too much. We beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series. We beat New Zealand 5-0 in New Zealand. Who cares? But beating Australia in two-Test series in Australia? Winning Tests in England? I remember that,” Shastri stated.
Despite the increasing number of bilateral series around, Shastri feels that it is mainly happening as the administrators want the money which is actually needed to make a strong base in the grass-root levels.
“Correct. So you need the right balance. Money is important because it can be put into the grassroots. The top players still want to play Test match cricket but, barring England and Australia, very few countries make money through it. In India it’s beginning to pick up because of the way India play. We go for the win because Test cricket is the ultimate,” Ravi Shastri concluded.
The T20 World Cup in UAE will be Ravi Shastri’s last assignment as Team India coach. Under his tenure, India won two-Test series in Australia, led England 2-1 in their backyard and qualified for the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.