Shaharyar not in favor of World T20 in 2018

“Yes, T20 cricket is very popular and necessary to globalise the sport, but to me personally it doesn’t appeal as a long term product,” he said in an interview with Press Trust of India, while clearly hinting at Pakistan’s likely to vote out a two-year cycle of the T20 World Cup.

“Test cricket is the real face of the sport and it must be reinvented and popularised again.

“So far, we don’t know anything about the International Cricket Council (ICC) wanting World T20 to return in 2018, but when the matter does come up we are not likely to support it.”

According to recent media reports ICC wants to fill the slot of 2018 with World T20 tournaments keeping in view lucrative revenue earned through WT20 2016 in India. Earlier, ICC had decided to hold the next WT20 in 2020 as Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in 2017 and ODI World Cup in 2019.

Over 750 million views for online videos of World T20 2016 matches have been said to be recorded worldwide, huge in comparison with 250 million views during 2015 ODI World Cup.

South Africa is being anticipated to host the 2018 tournament, given that ICC Annual Conference gives green light next month in this regard.