POTW: Bilal Ahmad15

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Another excellent post from [MENTION=147163]Bilal Ahmad15[/MENTION] discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of the upcoming white-ball series between Pakistan and New Zealand in the context of meaningless bilateral series, is this week's POTW

Congratulations to [MENTION=147163]Bilal Ahmad15[/MENTION]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...al-Series-Need-to-End&p=11792101#post11792101

Pakistan and New Zealand are soon going to play 5 ODIs and 5T20s against each other. The 5 ODIs are not part of the ODI Super League nor are they part of any other ICC Event, and obviously, the 5 T20s have no relation to any qualification or tournaments. Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) is being played at the same time as this New Zealand tour of Pakistan, New Zealand is not even playing a full strength team. In other words, these 5ODIs and 5T20s is going to be (perhaps) the most meaningless 10-match tour in recent times.

But the thing is these 10 matches didn't, and shouldn't, have been organised in the first place, known as "Bilateral Series". I have big issues with cricketing Boards organising their own series, that have no relevance except extra profit, which consideration for the bad effect it has for cricket. If it was up to me, Bilateral Series wont be allowed to be organised by cricketing boards, rather the ICC will create a schedule (through their already familiar FTP) where there is not a single Bilateral Test Series, not a single Bilateral ODI match, and no Bilateral T20 Series.

First, I would like to highlight the issues with Bilateral Series:

1. It ruins the balance of Teams Playing Each other within an appropriate 1.5 - 2 year time scale

For me, Teams should be touring and playing each other in an approximate time scale of once every 2 years. This time scale allows for a great amount of anticipation for the series between the two teams, and 2 years keeps the matchup between the two teams rare (I hope people understand what I am trying to say). One Matchup that has overall been following this time scale well (on the most part) is Pakistan vs Australia;

2016 (- 2017, Early): Pakistan Tour of Australia - 3 Test Matches & 5 ODIs

2018: Australia Tour of Pakistan - 2 Test Matches & 3 T20is
2018: Pakistan, Australia (And Zimbabwe) - T20i Tri Series

2019 (Early): Australia Tour of Pakistan - 5 ODIs
2019 (Late): Pakistan Tour of Australia - 2 Test Matches & 3 T20is

2022: Australia Tour of Pakistan - 3 Test Matches, 3 ODIs & 1 T20i

So as you can see, all these tours haven't been spaced out to exactly 1.5 - 2 years, but overall, the tours are reasonably spaced out and they don't play each other every year. Although they did play some matches in 2017, but I don't really count that as a major 2017 specific series series since it was at the very beginning fo the year and the tour did start in 2016. I hope you get the point.

But now lets have a look at other series between two teams, that have been organised way too much;

Australia vs India;
- 2016 - 5 ODIs & 3 T20is
- One Year Later; 4 Test Matches
- Seven Months Later; 5ODIs & 3T20is
- The Next Year; 3T20is, 4 Test Matches, 3ODIs
- Literally The Very Next Month... 2T20is & 5ODIs
- Less Than One Year Later; 3ODIs
- Later on in the year where the 3ODIs were played... 3ODIs, 3 Test Matches & 3T20is
- One Year Later (2022) till 2023 - 3 T20is, 4 Test Matches, 3ODIs

The Balance is just thrown out of the Window!

Pakistan and England too have played each other every single year since 2016, apart from 2017 (If I remember correctly).

Similarly, Pakistan and New Zealand have organised too many Bilateral series with each other too many times since 2016.

Yes, lets not ignore the big reason as to why Huge amounts of Bilateral series are being organised, that being making a smart move by organising the more entertaining series and getting more profit. But, talking from a cricketing entertainment perspective, this is only a short term solution for the circketing boards organising these series, but a horrible consequence in the long term. Because if these types of series where the same teams are playing each other again and again are happening, there will be way too much repetitiveness, leading to matches being too boring, and we all know the rest. In fact this has been happening for a while now. Honestly, what I am saying is so simple, yet ICC hasn't realised this and hasn't taken any measures to prevent this. ICC perhaps doesn't realise this because every time these Bilateral series are played, since the population of India is massive and there will always be people to watch such useless cricket series, which gives them this false impression that there are no problems, which is false, however this is just a suggestion.


2. It is completely meaningless

Once again; Bilateral Series have no meaning. In Sports Watching ,events, tournaments, sports, leagues etc. with a poor competition, and/ or no irrelevance are extremely difficult for the huge majority of people. This must be emphasised on a regular basis especially for cricket, because of what I always say;

Cricket in itself is a very complicated confusing and boring and unexciting sport for the huge majority of people. So Cricket needs to be as simple as possible in every aspect. And Bilateral series brings a whole layer of being useless, therefore confusing. Nothing else needs to be said, seriously, the things I am saying are so simple.


Solutions;

I don't just want to criticise and all that, I always want to provide my solution. Basically, I want the readers for his to understand that the aim of my solutions is to be simple, and to make cricket and more simple sport. I repeat, I believe my solutions are simple and easy;

Test Cricket & Test Bilaterals:
Easy - From Now on, every Test Match must be apart of the World Test Championship. So No more Bilateral Test Series can be organised from anyone.
Just have a think about it. Its just so confusing, unnecessary and stupid to be having Test matches that aren't part of the World Test Championship and Test Matches that are part fo the World Test Championship.

ODI Cricket & ODI Bilateral Series:

Again Easy and Smooth - Every ODI match, every ODI series must be apart of the ODI World Championship. What is the ODI World Championship you may ask (Well I hope at least one person is asking lol)? Basically, if I get enough time and motivation, I will post another thread or post on what I think about having an ODI World Championship.

T20i Cricket & T20 Bilateral Series:
Now the issue I see here is the cricketing boards make profit (unlike ODI and Test) from playing big T20i series, 5 or 7 T20i series. But despite this profit, having 5 t20is or 7 is just too much repetitiveness, leading to boringness and meaningless cricket, and a declining interest in long term. So what I will do is that T20i series can no longer be organised. Yes, not even a 2-match T20i series. Teams can only play each other in a one-match T20i 'Friendly', which is to be played between two teams twice within a four year cycle (one of the T20i matches (lets say Pakistan vs Ireland) in the Pakistans Home venue, & The other T20i friendly match in Irelands home venue). Its basically like Football Friendlies, in International Football, nations don't play a 5match or 3match or 7match series of football matches against each other, its just one or two friendlies in the four year cycle. The purpose of allowing team to only play a T20i match against each other twice within a four year cycle is this will keep the T20 matches, and the ambition, excitement of the T20i match at an extremely high level.

 

[Saj]

Well done, good post.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Kind of ignores the fact Pakistan barely play any cricket anyway.

 

[Firebat]

Good post. I really can't muster any excitement about 10 white ball matches against NZ B. And we will probably lose of them too.

 

[Suleiman]

Another t20 series when the next one is more than a year away feels like overeating. High unnecessary. Another ODI series at least would be practice. PCB hardly care about tests anymore too, I guess revenue wise it makes sense

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Thanks, I wasn't really expecting it, because in this post I just stated obvious things, which for someone is unrecognised by ICC, any other cricket series organisers, and perhaps even the cricketing general population.

Matches need to have meaning. Its as simple as that.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Kind of ignores the fact Pakistan barely play any cricket anyway.

Although I made this post close to the start of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Series, this post refers to all Bilateral series from every team, not just Pakistan.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

some reason*

 

[daytrader]

Excellent post!! Although I agree that there are too many meaningless Bilaterals, I don't think giving ICC the power to control and organize all series is the answer. ICC can easily be hijacked by the BIG 3 and the ICC hasn't really shown any interest in expanding the game. All recent innovations have been outside the ICC like T20s and Franchise cricket.