NEW Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has called on cricket’s governing body to reduce the number of one-day internationals, saying the move would restore fans’ enjoyment of the 50-overs format. New Zealand will play Pakistan in six ODIs this month as a prelude to next month’s World Cup, and Vettori said the International Cricket Council should act to prevent a proliferation of meaningless games.
He said the decision of the ICC to implement Test and one-day championships may restore some luster to 50-overs cricket which has been overtaken by Twenty20 cricket as the fans’ favorite format.
Vettori said players and fans often cited the increase in the number of one-day matches as one of international cricket’s major problems.
“That’s the one a lot of people talk about,” Vettori told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper.
“Why are we playing these extended one-day series? What’s the point? Hopefully the ICC follows these proposals through because I’d like to have more riding on every game.
“The number of games need to be reduced so fans (and players) enjoy them more again.”
Vettori said the issue was not one of workload. He said players who took up lucrative contracts in the Indian Premier League or in other overseas competitions could not complain they were playing too many games.
“Everyone understands how difficult it is to be away, but we have the choice to play the IPL and other competitions,” he said. “It is important not to use that as an excuse. We get breaks from the game.”