Former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri reckoned that the ODI format needs to be shortened from 50 to 40 overs so that it does not fade away. While the emergence of the T20 format was expected to diminish the importance of Tests, it hasn’t been the case and instead, the 50-over format has taken a toll. With a lot of T20 leagues around the world, fans are preferring more to watch the shorter formats.

Interestingly, Test cricket has taken a different route and is starting to gain more and more popularity. Totals are getting chased down in the fourth innings which has now left the ODI cricket in jeopardy. Ben Stokes’ retirement from ODIs at the age of 31, was an entire shock to the whole cricketing fraternity.

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Former Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi had earlier suggested that the ODIs should be reduced to 40 overs and he noted that the format isn’t interesting as it was before. Ravi Shastri emulated Afridi’s words stating that shortening the span will definitely work as he explained the examples from the 1983 World Cup when 60 overs were played per innings. He reckons that the need to think forward and added that the ODI format has been played for 50 overs for a long time now.

During an interview on Samaa TV, Shahid Afridi said, “One-day cricket has become quite boring now. I would suggest cutting ODI cricket from 50 overs to 40 overs in order to make it entertaining.” On the other hand, during a chat on Fancode, Ravi Shastri said, “There is no harm in shortening the span of the game. When one-day cricket started, it was 60 overs. When we won the World Cup in 1983, it was 60 overs.”

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He further added, “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. 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.”