Former India opener Virender Sehwag says India should not play Asia Cup 2018 following the poor schedule at the event which is scheduled to be held in UAE in September. Defending champions India will play a qualifier team and Pakistan on 18 and 19 September respectively that has drawn criticism from BCCI as well.
India’s marathon tour of England will conclude on 11 September and having a gap of just 7 days for the Asia Cup opener and playing Pakistan the very next day has not gone well with an angry “Virender Sehwag”. He said a player needs a minimum of 24-48 hours rest after playing an ODI match.
“I am really shocked to see the scheduling because which country plays back-to-back cricket matches these days? There was a gap of two days in between the T20 matches in England and here you are playing ODIs under hot Dubai weather and that too without a break. So, I don’t think this is a correct scheduling,” Sehwag said in an exclusive chat show with India TV.
“There shouldn’t be any back-to-back games. If the BCCI had to cancel anything then it should have been the qualifier game in the Asia Cup rather than reducing the four-day practice match against Essex to three days.
Earlier, BCCI had to cut down the span of India’s practise game against Essex from a four day match to a three day match following concern about British heatwave.
“A player needs at least 48 hours to recover after playing an ODI match because you field for 3.5 hours and after that if you bat for 2 hours then it makes your total time spend on the ground to 5.5 hours. So, it takes a minimum of 24 to 48 hours for a player to recover,” he added.
Sehwag further noted that Dubai’s heat will disturb the recovery process of the players who will then be recently coming from a long tour of England. The “Nawab of Najafgarh” said Pakistani player will be in shape and will have an edge over Indian players who will be tired.
Sehwag further said if there is any problem with the scheduling then India shouldn’t have played the Asia Cup.
“Why there’s such hue and cry over playing the Asia Cup? Don’t play the Asia Cup. Prepare the team for the home series or the away series. It’s really difficult to play back-to-back games,” he signed off.
Sri Lanka will play Bangladesh in the tournament opener on 15th September. You can read the full schedule and tournament format- HERE
