Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram cannot visualise a T20 World Cup happening behind closed doors and believes the ICC should await a “suitable time” to host the big-ticket event after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
There is speculation that the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November are going to be postponed thanks to the travel restrictions in situ for the coronavirus outbreak.
“Personally, i do not think it is a good idea. I mean, how could you’ve got a cricket World Cup without spectators,” Akram told ‘The News’ on Thursday.
“A World Cup is all about big crowds, spectators coming from all parts of the world to support their teams. It’s all about atmosphere and you can’t catch on behind closed doors,” he said.
On May 28, the ICC had deferred a choice on the fate of the T20 World Cup till June 10 because it continued exploring contingency plans amid the raging pandemic that has derailed calendars worldwide.
“So i think that they (ICC) should await a more suitable time and once this pandemic subsides and restrictions are eased then we will have a correct World Cup ,” he said.
The ICC Cricket Committee has recently recommended a ban on the utilization of saliva to shine the ball but allowed sweat as an interim measure to counter the coronavirus threat. It also didn’t allow use of artificial substances.
Akram said allowing sweat isn’t enough and ICC will need to find a “quick fix” to the matter .
“I’m sure fast bowlers won’t love it if they’re stopped from using saliva to shine the ball. they’re allowing sweat but I can say needless to say that it is not an equivalent ,” he said.
“You shine the ball with saliva and sweat is simply something of an add-on, a top-up. an excessive amount of use of sweat will leave the ball too wet,” he added.
“I believe that they’re going to got to find an inexpensive solution. But I might say that they’re going to got to find a fast fix to the present problem.”