Former Team India captain and head coach, Ravi Shastri, has said that Hardik Pandya might not play ODI cricket after next year’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, as he reacted to Ben Stokes’ decision to retire from the 50-over format at the age of 31.
He further said that in the coming days we will see players choosing formats for the sake of their body and mental health, thanks to the demanding international schedule.
Ravi Shastri, who is currently doing commentary in UK, told Sky Sports: “50-over format might be pushed back but it can still survive if you focus just on the World Cup. From the ICC's point of view, paramount importance should be given to World Cups, whether it is T20 World Cup or 50-over World Cup, the bucks have to increase. Test cricket will always remain because of the importance it brings to the game.”
He further explained, “You have players already choosing what formats they want to play. Take a Hardik Pandya. He wants to play T20 cricket and he is very clear in his mind that 'I do not want to play anything else. He will play 50-over cricket because there is a World Cup in India next year. After that, you might see him going from that as well. You will see a similar thing happening with other players, they will start choosing formats, they have every right to.”
On the present-day cricket schedule, Shastri said: “The main issue that we have to look at right now is the reality, what is happening right now. There are things that are being said by former players, someone like me, 5-10 years ago, that is already happening. If you are not going to see the reality, then it is going to give you the biggest knockout punch that you have ever got.
It is not just administrators who run the world game, but administrations who run different boards around the world, they have got to see the reality, the volume of cricket, and what is the demand, going with the economics of the sport. It is franchise cricket that is ruling the roost and it will rule the roost. So do not wait for it to happen, then you get on your high horse and ask what should we do?”
He signed off by saying, “It would be too late, it is going to happen, there is going to be franchise cricket that is going to rule the roost around the world. Then how will you have international cricket? You will have to cut the volume, you have to cut bilateral cricket, and go in that direction. You will never be able to stop different players going and playing for different franchises.”
