
Heinrich Klaasen (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who has left a flourishing international career to focus on the franchise circuit, believes it is time T20 cricket is seen almost as a sport in its own right – one where professional leagues can flourish and help globalize cricket.The hard-hitting batsman said cricketers are moving to a stage where they can build careers as professional footballers. But he understands that purists and administrators of the game are not prepared for a future in which international cricket is curtailed and leagues take center stage.
Watch
James Franklin post-match PC: SRH surprised by pitch, celebrates saver Nitish-Klaasen“I think cricket wants to go the way of football. But cricket purists, especially in India, England, Australia, South Africa and probably New Zealand, will never allow that. They will want Test cricket to stay. With strong bodies like BCCI and ICC, the decision to play T20 cricket around the world and allow international cricket for only two months in a year will never happen,” Klaasen told TOI on Thursday.“Sometimes it’s hard to get into the international team or it doesn’t pay as well. It’s obviously a business and you want to take care of your family and your life and you only have a certain amount of time to do that. So it’s definitely going towards that for cricketers,” he added.Klaasen emphasized the need to embrace T20 cricket as the format that will shape the future of the sport. “It’s probably the format that will stay the longest from now on. The other formats will either slow down a bit or be limited. The game of cricket is evolving and I think T20 cricket has forced other formats to play differently. If you want to evolve the game of cricket, this is definitely the format to do it with,” said Klaasen.With T20 cricket, the dynamic of the sport has changed. Klaasen reckons it will stay that way and that coaching manuals have already evolved.“If you look at coaches around the world, that’s exactly how they coach. They know the players have a different mindset than they did six years ago. If you want to be successful as a coach and have a job for a very long time, your mindset definitely has to change. They’re still giving old-school advice and making sure the cricket brains are still there and it’s not just the best balance at the moment with the coach.” he said.
Vote
Should T20 cricket be considered a separate sport?




