Sachin Tendulkar suggests ICC to follow Olympics route of scheduling

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought the cricket world to a standstill. Let alone international cricket, not even domestic cricket is taking place. Previously, the cancellation of bilateral tours only affected the involved cricket nations, but with the Test championship in place, it is having wider repercussions. With many tours under the threat of cancellation, playing the World Test Championship in June 2021 seems improbable. Cricket’s greatest run-scorer, Sachin Tendulkar has a suggestion for ICC in that regard.

“I think so (need permutations and combinations to be worked out). With regards to the World Test Championship, if you see, the Olympics also has been postponed but it will still be called 2020 Olympics even though it will be now held in 2021. They are still calling it 2020 Olympics and in that way, we need to figure out a window where you know all these games which would have ideally happened at this time, how can we accommodate them in the future and yet continue with this championship,” said Tendulkar while speaking to IANS.

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“To start afresh would be a big thing. And if you have started something, it needs to be completed in the best and fairest manner where we are able to accommodate all the remaining matches and give everyone a fair chance. We could extend the time limit a bit because these tours also aren’t cancelled totally, they have been postponed. So, along with the tours, the championship also gets postponed,” the legend further explained.

Another raging debate in recent times has been on selection of players based on their age or fitness. Even in the Indian team, there have been arguments over picking one in between Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha in the Test team.

“Whoever is good should be given a go. It is not about a youngster or such things. If Saha is fit and fit enough to deliver, he should be given a go. Similarly, if Pant is fit, he should be….let the team management decide. I am not saying Saha should be ahead of Pant or Pant should be ahead of Saha. Let the team management decide that.

“If someone is fit, age criteria shouldn’t come into play. So, to cut my answer short, if someone is fit, age criteria should not come into play and the team management should decide whoever needs to play,” Tendulkar opined.