Sanjay Manjrekar is against a hasty overhauling of the 50-over format. Any change must have a solid logic, he advises.

By Rajarshi Gupta

To change or not to change, that’s the question.

The world may be divided, but Sanjay Manjrekar’s choice is clear. At least for the time being, leave the One-day Internationals alone, he professes.

Manjrekar has company, too. Former Mumbai and Indian teammate Ravi Shastri is also on the same boat.

Shastri, who will be commentating on the upcoming Champions Trophy, says: “Every match in this event counts. It is the best against the best and will undoubtedly showcase some top quality international cricket. I believe the success of this tournament will reaffirm the importance of 50-over cricket”

If one calls cricket a “product” in the modern corporate world, Manjrekar feels: “ODIs have stood the test of time. It is successful and any effort made to change something as saleable, must be well thought of.”

In recent times, a plethora of thoughts to revolutionise ODIs have surfaced. Latching on to an opinion by Sachin Tendulkar to break ODIs into innings of 25 overs each, several other cricketers have voiced their opinion.

Anil Kumble prefers a 40-over format and the English Cricket Board is already going to trial this at the domestic level.

But according to the likes of Imran Khan, Shastri, Wasim Akram and Manjrekar, it’s just too early to write the obituary of the 50-over game.

Manjrekar has interesting and valid observation. He has questioned the wisdom of long-drawn bilateral series as in the 7-match ODI contest between Australia and England.

“World events have never been a problem. Bilateral series never get the necessary attention,” he said, adding that the last 2 ODIs between Australia and England are as dead as a duck.

Food for thought, for sure.