Virender Sehwag And Shahid Afridi Differ On Future Of Test Cricket

Cricket stalwarts Virender Sehwag and Shahid Afridi have expressed contrasting views on Test cricket.

In their playing days, Virender Sehwag and Shahid Afridi had pretty much the same batting approach on the field. Both the players believed in scoring as quickly as possible.  And both succeeded with their approach and retired as two of the greatest cricketers for their respective country.

But it seems both hold different views when it comes to playing Test cricket. While Sehwag, who scored two Test triple tons and missed another by just 7, feels that Test cricket will never die despite the decline in its popularity due to the meteoric rise of T20 cricket, Afridi thinks otherwise.

“I still prefer Test cricket and ODIs. We may have a lot of T20s and T10s but I don’t think Test cricket or ODIs will ever die as long as some star emerges. Look at Prithvi Shaw who has come through the ranks,” said Sehwag during an event of the upcoming T10 Cricket.

Earlier this week, Shaw made his Test debut at the age of 18 and became the second youngest Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to hit a Test century.

On the other hand, Afridi did not hesitate at all in expressing his dislike for Test cricket.

“For me in today’s times, Test cricket, no way. I loved playing One-Dayers. I feel if you don’t enjoy something then you are forcibly trying to do it and I never liked being forced into anything,” said the batting coach and icon player for the Pakhtoons.

The former Pakistan skipper said that with the current short format of the game, the players’ careers have prolonged.

“With T20s and T10s our careers too have stretched. Lesser the overs in a format, our careers will carry on for longer time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the organisers are gearing up to hold the second edition of the world’s first ever 10-overs competition. The inaugural season was held in Sharjah last year and was quite a success. The upcoming edition will be held from November 23 to December 2.

Eight teams – Kerala Kings, Punjab Legends, Maratha Arabians, Bengal Tigers, The Karachians, Rajputs, Northern Warriors and Pakhtoons – have been drawn in to two groups.

Virender Sehwag will ply his trade as player and batting coach of Maratha Arabians.