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Twenty20 threatens ODIs, echoes legendary trio
Published on Fri, Jun 06, 2008 at 11:09, Updated at Fri, Jun 06, 2008 in 
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LEGENDS: Wasim Akram, Rahul Dravid and Sanath Jayasuriya speak on Twenty20 and its effects.
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New Delhi: The success of the Indian Premier League has forced cricket's bosses to re-think the future of the game but what do the players think? Well, for an all-round perspective on what challenges the game faces CNN-IBN's Sports Editor Gaurav Kalra caught up with three legends: Wasim Akram, Rahul Dravid and Sanath Jayasuriya for this exclusive interview.
Sanath Jayasuriya: I think that One-Day cricket and Tests are different. To get the interest of the people, you need to change a few rules and regulations of the 50-over game.
In Twenty20, more people come because in three hours, it gets very interesting with the batsmen playing so many shots. In 50 overs format, few things need to change, otherwise Twenty20 will get over 50-over game.
Gaurav Kalra: Sanath Jayasuriya was the leader of the new age One-Day cricket and now he himself fears for it. One of the other reasons is that the 2007 world cup was criticised for how long it was, how dull some of the matches were and suddenly the Twenty20 World Cup comes and now you have an IPL, are you worried for the future of ODI?
Wasim Akram: Yes, I am. ICC (International Cricket Council) will have to sit down and think what they have to do between 15-35 overs because those 20 overs can be really boring. From a cricketer's point of view it is a different skill altogether.
In Twenty20, you don't need to be astute to think what you have to do and make a strategy. In one-day cricket you need to make a strategy. In T20, it is just go out and hit the ball for sixes. But they have to change rules between the 20-35 over mark because the game gets very slow during that period.
And nowadays after Twenty20, people don't have time to watch singles. Even me, I probably will switch the channel.
Gaurav Kalra: Now Rahul you are surrounded by two gentlemen who have taken a very serious stands on the future of the one-day game, what's your view?
Rahul Dravid: There are 365 days in an year, so if you have a 44-day IPL tournament and people talking about carving out windows, something got to give. There are only that many days an year and people can play only that many games. The first thing that is going to give is one-day cricket because you will see an increase in the Twenty20 games and something has to come from somewhere, you cannot add the number of days in an year. 50-over games are probably going to get lesser if this take off.
I hope Test cricket is not touched and the sanctity is maintained. And the tour programme is not challenged by any other for of the game. Something is going to give and the first going to be the 50-over game to some extent. it might take a bit of time but I see that happening.
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This is simply a discussion for a problem that doesnt exist. Cricket is always cricket whether its a T20 or
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