Wasim Akram, Virat Kohli
Getty Images

As much as T20 cricket has brought glitz, glamour, money and a fast-track way for young players to earn recognition. It has also added some disadvantage for the players. Youngsters these days are more focused to play in the shortest format than trying to earn a call-up in the Test cricket. The longest format has also continued to lose its sheen since the inception of the T20s.

Fast bowling legend Wasim Akram in a chat with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel highlighted the negative effects of the shortest format. He also said, all the money and glamour is fine but certain aspects of the game are missing in the shortest format.

Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan
Wasim Akram has often guided Shoaib Akhtar during his young days. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Wasim Akram: T20 cricket does not make bowlers

Test cricket remains the best format to judge the potential of a cricketer but the shortest format has overshadowed it in the present days. Wasim Akram said during his days players used to concentrate more on playing for the national team for six months and then enhancing their skills in the county cricket.

But things have changed since the inception of T20s and it does not makes bowlers. Wasim Akram also said youngsters should focus more on playing first-class cricket to learn the art of bowling.

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“The amount of cricket happening has changed everything. T20 cricket does not make bowlers. Back when we used to play, it was six months playing for the national team and another six months for county team. Youngsters need to play more First-Class cricket to learn bowling,” Akram told Aakash Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

Wasim Akram, Asia Cup 2018, India, Pakistan, Dubai
Wasim Akram. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“T20 is amazing, good entertainment; there’s plenty of money involved and I’m all in for the importance of money in a sport and the players. But I don’t judge bowlers on the basis of their T20 performance. I do on the basis of seeing how they fare in the longer format.”

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