Former cricketers suggest cutting overs in ODIs

The cricketers believe that the popularity of ODI cricket is declining. Therefore, former players like Shahid Afridi and Ravi Shastri share the same opinion which is reducing the format into 40 overs.   

The players are slowly focussing on T20 cricket and franchise leagues across the world. But English all-rounder Ben Stokes' retirement from the 50-over format left many concerned.

During commentary for the second ODI between West Indies and India, Shastri, like Afridi, felt that the ODI format should be reduced to 40 overs now.

“There is no harm in shortening the span of the game. When one-day cricket started, it was of 60 overs. When we won the World Cup in 1983, it was of 60 overs. After that, people thought that 60 overs were a bit too long. People found that span of overs between 20 to 40 hard to digest. So they reduced it from 60 to 50,” he said.

“So years have gone by now since that decision so why not reduce it from 50 to 40 now. Because you got to be forward-thinking and evolve. It stayed for 50 for too long."

Earlier, the former Pakistani hard hitter said this during his interview with Samaa TV after Stokes' retirement.

“One-day cricket has become quite boring now. I would suggest to cut ODI cricket from 50 overs to 40 overs in order to make it entertaining,” he said.