"You will be able to play only 50 overs in Test cricket" - Danish Kaneria's warning to Pakistan ahead of Champions One-Day Cup 2024
Former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for organizing the Champions One-Day Cup 2024. He opined that the Pakistani players should not be playing a 50-over tournament following the Test series defeat at home to Bangladesh.
Kaneria suggested that if Pakistan continued to prefer one-day cricket over the red-ball format, their batters would only manage to play 50 overs in the Tests. Speaking in his latest YouTube video, the cricketer-turned-expert remarked (from 2:54):
"What is Pakistan doing? They have organized a One-Day Cup, wow. You got insulted against Bangladesh, you can't form a Test team, there are no new Test players, you have struggled on the longest format, and what did you do, conduct the same old One-Day tournament? If your mindset is to focus on One-Day cricket, you will be able to play only 50 overs in Test cricket. When you know that Test cricket is a problem, you should have done something about it."
Kaneria reckoned that Pakistan should take a cue from India's approach. He pointed out that most of India's top first-class players are currently partaking in a red-ball tournament, Duleep Trophy 2024, adding (from 0:41):
"I don't think the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken any steps or done any work for the improvement of Test cricket. Just look at India. Pakistan should learn from India. There are four teams playing in the Duleep Trophy. All the top first-class players are taking part in it. They are preparing for Test cricket and want to be ready for the longer format."
Bangladesh scripted history with their 2-0 whitewash over Pakistan, clinching their maiden Test series victory over Pakistan. Test skipper Shan Masood has also come under the scanner after his fifth defeat as skipper from as many outings.
The Pakistani players will be in action in the Champions One-Day Cup 2024. The tournament will be played in Faisalabad from Thursday, September 12.
"India will completely hammer them" - Danish Kaneria on Bangladesh's upcoming assignment
Danish Kaneria believes that despite their 2-0 whitewash over Pakistan, Bangladesh won't be able to give India a tough fight in the upcoming two-match Test series.
Predicting that the Rohit Sharma-led side will completely dominate Bangladesh, Kaneria said (from 6:55):
"Bangladesh came to Pakistan and whitewash us. However, in the series against India, you will see that India will completely hammer them. They will not even let them come close. Bangladesh have good spinners, but the Indian batters have prepared well in the Duleep Trophy."
The Test series opener between India and Bangladesh is set to be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19.