Cricketers Are Recognised And Respected Only If They Perform Across Formats: Wasim Jaffer

The domestic legend Wasim Jaffer, who recently called curtains on his cricketing career feels that the players will be recognised and respected only if they are able to fit in all three formats of the game.

However, he highlighted a few exceptions like Cheteshwar Pujara and other specialists, who can still make the crowd talking about them.

Jaffer played only two ODIs but scored 1944 runs in 31 Tests for India. He holds the record for the second-highest individual score by an Indian in the West Indies.

The veteran recently announced retirement from all forms of cricket after a 24-year-old first-class career during which he amassed close to 20,000 runs.

A lot of importance is given to T20: Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer felt that not only him, but even the likes of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman didn’t get their due recognition only because they were typecast as Test match or long format players, at a time when limited-overs cricket, especially the T20 format was on the rise.

At a time when IPL has clearly overshadowed all domestic tournaments, Jaffer highlighted that the domestic leagues shouldn’t be underplayed.

Wasim Jaffer says players need to be fit across formats:

He further opined the significance of playing in all formats has become the need of the hour in today’s times.

“You will be recognised and respected only if you fit in all three formats. I am not saying (Cheteshwar) Pujara is not respected, but then obviously he is going to play only Test cricket and no other format,” Jaffer was quoted as saying by cricket.com.

 

“A player playing with them in a Test match knows how important those players are. But you know we have to go with the time. A lot of importance is given to T20 cricket,” he added.

Over the years, India have been blessed with some quality batsmen at their disposal.

During the golden period of Indian cricket, during Sourav Ganguly’s tenure, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag exhibited perseverance.

The veterans of the game were synonymous with longevity in the middle. However, Sehwag flamboyance grabbed the eyeballs.