Test Cricket Will Die In Next 15-20 Years - Saqlain Mushtaq

Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq reckoned Test cricket won’t last for more than two decades and shorter formats of the games like T20s will surge.

Players are either retiring from a particular format of international cricket or reducing their involvement with the national side in a bid to focus on playing more franchise cricket throughout the year.

Trent Boult cutting on the national contract is alarming bells for the future of Test cricket

New Zealand pacer Trent Boult recently opted out from New Zealand Cricket‘s (NZC) central contract list to spend time with family and increase availability in different franchise leagues. Earlier in the year, South Africa opener Quinton de Kock announced retirement from Test cricket for a similar reason.

Since the advent of the Indian Premier League in 2008 by the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), every big nation has got its own T20 league or is in the process of establishing one.

Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Cricket Board’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) are the mere competitors of IPL with the ECB-owned ‘The Hundred’ latest to join the brigade.

South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are the two countries in line to launch their respective T20 competitions next year in January. The fact that IPL owners have invested in teams of both leagues is likely to boost their revenue models. 

Test cricket helps you learn life skills: Saqlain Mushtaq 

Mushtaq, who played 49 Tests for Pakistan, T20 cricket will be preferred over Test cricket because of the financial benefits. The Pakistan head coach requests the global governing body to take some strenuous measures to safeguard the future of Test cricket. 

“I feel even Test cricket will die in the next 15-20 years. With the younger generation and the mindset that they have, they will naturally want to play T20 cricket. Even with the financial side and time taken into consideration, T20 cricket ticks most boxes,” Mushtaq told Sportskeeda. 

“The ICC and the cricket boards will need to find a way to keep Test cricket alive because it is the real cricket. It is Test cricket that helps you learn life skills like strategies, patience, decision-making etc. If you want money and fame, then there’s T20 cricket. But if you want life skills and want to play the purest form of cricket, then it’s Test cricket,” he added.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan: I Don’t Understand Why They Removed Him From White-Ball Cricket – Saqlain Mushtaq on Ravichandran Ashwin