T20 Cricket Is Entertaining But Real Beauty Lies In Test Matches: Inzamam-ul-Haq

Former Pakistan captain and legendary batsman, Inzamam-ul-Haq has voiced his support for Test cricket, stating that while T20 brings excitement to the game, the ‘real beauty’ of the game lies in the longest format of the game.

While Inzamam-ul-Haq admitted that T20 cricket is important for the global expansion of the game and also its financial health, he urged the cricket administration to focus on the growth of T20s and Tests simultaneously.

“The focus, currently, is mainly on T20 cricket. It goes for all the teams and players. Yes, I understand that T20 cricket is entertaining and people enjoy watching the format but the real beauty lies in test matches wherein you find out the quality of a batsman. So, that should be surely be maintained,” said Inzamam-ul-Haq on his official Youtube channel.

The third-highest leading run-scorer for Pakistan warned that if the ICC and cricket boards around the world focus on T20 cricket at the expense of the longest format, then it would be detrimental for the future of the game.

“But don’t end Test cricket and replace it with T20 cricket. If this happens, it will be unfair to both the sport and the players because if the boards devote more focus to T20 cricket over Tests, then the players will also follow the same path. Moreover, even the youngsters and the next crop of cricketers will also start focusing more on T20 cricket from the start,” he added.

Inzamam also lambasted cricket boards around the world for expanding a bilateral T20I rubber from three to five games while at the same time reducing the Test rubber from three to two matches.

While he admitted that boards want to give their teams more game time ahead of the upcoming two T20 World Cups, he reckoned that it shouldn’t be done at the expense of a Test match.

”If T20 cricket is more entertaining and gets you more money, sure, do it. But not at the cost of Test cricket. It shouldn’t be the case that you are reducing a three-match series to two Tests and increasing a three-match T20I series to five. The board shouldn’t send out a message that players should play on T20 cricket and that T20 is of prime importance to us,” added Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Also Read: India Tour Of England 2021: BCCI Awaiting Travel Exemption For Players’ Families From The UK Government