Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith says T20 Internationals should be scrapped in favour of spending more time promoting Test cricket to the masses.
Smith feels T20Is aren’t necessary and the shortest format should be left to domestic cricket only, in order to ensure Test cricket’s survival.
“I don’t think T20 cricket should be played at international level,” the South African said speaking at an event, according to the Hindstan Times. “My opinion is to retain domestic T20 competitions and have international cricket – Test and ODIs – and have a World Cup every couple of years.
However, Smith also believes that the removal of T20I’s would make the international calendar much easier on players’ lives, as they currently spend a large chunk of the calendar travelling with international sides, something AB de Villiers indicated may have played a part in his international retirement last week.
“There are not many players who have played for 14-15 years that can travel nine, 10, 11 months a year, deal with the pressures, plus the family pressures, it’s very, very difficult,” Reuters quoted Smith as saying.
“The guy has played international cricket for around 15 years. More than anything, he has the right to decide when he’s had enough. He will have his own reasons for that, you got to respect that.”
