Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram has called for ODIs to be scrapped completely, adding a new twist to the debate over the scheduling of international cricket and the feasibility of continuing with the 50-over format given the growing popularity of T20s. Akram’s assertion follows former India captain Ravi Shastri’s call to do away with T20 bilateral series given the mushrooming of lucrative franchise cricket leagues in the format.

Akram, speaking on The Daily Telegraph’s Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast, called the ODI format a “drag”. “Even as a commentator … one-day cricket is just a drag now, especially after T20. I can imagine as a player. 50 overs, 50 overs, then you have to pre-game, post-game, the lunch game. “T20 is kind of easier, four hours, the game is over. The leagues all around the world, there is a lot more money — I suppose this is part and parcel of modern cricket. T20 or Test cricket. One-day cricket is kind of dying.

“It is quite tiring for a player to play one-day cricket. After T20, one-day cricket seems it is going for days. So players are focusing more on the shorter format. And longer format obviously (with) Test cricket,” said the former Pakistan captain who had 502 ODI wickets to go with his 414 Test scalps.

The debate intensified after Ben Stokes’ sudden retirement from the format. “Him deciding that he is retiring from one-day cricket is quite sad but I agree with him,” the pace great known for his deadly yorkers noted. Asked if the governing body should scrap ODIs entirely, Akram responded: “I think so. In England you have full houses. In India, Pakistan especially, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, one-day cricket you are not going to fill the stadiums. “They are doing it just for the sake of doing it. After the first 10 overs, it’s just ‘OK, just go a run a ball, get a boundary, four fielders in and you get to 200, 220 in 40 overs’ and then have a go last 10 overs. Another 100. It’s kind of run-of-the-mill. “There’s a battle within the battle in Test cricket. I always preferred Test matches. One-day used to be fun but Tests were where you were recognised as a player… where people still pick you for the world XIs.”

Bracewell hat-trick

New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell did not even bowl a full over, yet he finished with a hat-trick, in the second T20I against Ireland on Wednesday.

The all-rounder’s 3/5 from five balls in his maiden over in T20I cricket helped New Zealand win by 88 runs. In reply to New Zealand’s 179/4, the hosts were all out for 91 in 13.5 overs. Bracewell became only the 35th bowler, and the third New Zealander after Jacob Oram and Tim Southee, to take wickets with three consecutive balls in T20Is. Brief scores: NZ 179/4 in 20 ovs (Dane Cleaver 78 n.o.). Ireland 91 in 13.5 ovs (Ish Sodhi 3/21, Michael Bracewell 3/5). NZ won by 88 runs. (Reuters)