Windies great Lara bats for night cricket

Lara says T20 has become cricket's most popular format.

The game of cricket has gone through a sea change with the advent of Twenty20 and administrators need to look after the demands of the fans. Former West Indian great Brian Lara admits T20 has become the most popular version but he wants protection for all forms of cricket. He said it is time to make the game sexy and more appealing and night matches could be the answer.
While talking to the media during the opening of Masters Cricket League Academy in Dubai, Lara said: "There is no doubt that T20's emergence has changed the scenario but we need to protect one-day and Test cricket. It really hurt me when I saw empty stadiums in the Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka Test series recently. I remember my childhood when we followed the game so enthusiastically and used to watch international matches. The authorities simply can bus students to the grounds and they will be very happy to watch the cricket live."
Lara added: "Life has become too busy and too complicated. People have so many things to do and authorities need to tailor the schedules accordingly. Night matches could be a solution because after doing their day's duties people might have time to watch the match and we may be able to fill the stadiums." Lara has ruled the game during his heyday and people used to compare him with other greats of the era. But he hates to make comparison between the players. "I just appreciate Virat Kohli for what he is doing for cricket. Sachin Tendulkar has ruled the world by setting all the records. He played cricket for 25 years and inspired many generations. I don't compare players with one another. Every era has great players like Sir Garfiled Sobers, Viv Richards and Sunil Gavaskar. Now we have AB de Villiers, Kohli and Joe Root etc. and each of them is best in his own way."
While talking about MS Dhoni, Lara said: "He has served India marvelously and won a number of trophies for his country what I could not do for the West Indies cricket. I hope Kohli will take the charge now and will continue Dhoni's good work."
Pakistan are going to visit the West Indies in March and Lara rates the visitors as favourites. "Pakistan are a very good side and they stand a good chance to win the series against West Indies. It is a talented but unpredictable side and so is the case with the West Indies. We should expect a good series in the Caribbeans."
liaqat@khaleejtimes.com