Great Imran blames IPL for poor India show
After reaching pinnacle of the game, the man now bids for similar success in political arena in Pakistan
© AFP
Imran Khan, the legend of Pakistan cricket held lucrative Twenty20 IPL responsible for India’s recent miserable Test performance, stating the concentration should be on game’s longer format.
In recent Test series between India and Australia, India was clean swept by Michael Clarke’s team and set a record of 8 successive overseas Test defeats.
"I can only use one word to describe India's form... consistent. To lose eight Test matches in a row overseas is an achievement," Imran, the former Pakistan captain, said in the first annual Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture in Kolkata on Monday night.
"It's a wake-up call for Indian cricket. A team that won the World Cup and was number one in Tests a few months back is in the doldrums. If you want to be the leaders you can't keep losing. If you pay so much emphasis on Twenty20 cricket, you've got to pay hugely."
The yearly IPL tournament has changed the cricket big time because of high-octane blend of international star players, short matches and Bollywood glamour.
Imran insisted that Test cricket should be given top priority over all type of cricket matches since it proves the players’ sportsmanship and their techniques.
Imran also said India needed to overhaul their domestic cricket to make it more competitive.
"In India and Pakistan, there's a huge jump from first-class cricket to international cricket," he said.
© Cricket Companion
