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Team India is jaded, tired: Younus

Karachi: Pakistan captain Younus Khan feels the “jaded and tired” Indian team is a perfect example of how non-stop cricket can affect a side’s performance, highlighting an urgent need to “reinvent” the international calendar.

Younus said the exhaustive and gruelling schedule was leading to many fitness issues for players and also early burnout of many promising careers.

“Pakistan has not played that much cricket in the last two years due to the security issues in our country but the other teams are playing non-stop particularly commercially viable sides like India and Australia,” he said.

India and Australia are currently playing a seven-match ODI series in which the host is trailing the World champion 2-4.

“You can see how some of the players especially Indians are looking jaded and tired. I think it would be a good idea if the administrators rethink the international calendar when they finalise the post 2012 future tours programme,” he added.

Younus felt fewer matches spread over lesser number of venues would help the players remain fit.

“It would be a good idea if the travelling of teams was cut down on tours and during tournaments. It would be good for players if one venue was selected to host at least two matches in a series that would cut down the travelling of teams,” he said.

Eases pressure

“It is always easier to adjust to weather conditions and other details when you play more than one match at one venue. It eases the pressure of travelling on players,” Younus added.

Younus also called for the ICC to lay out mandatory breaks of at least two weeks between series and tournaments to allow players to recharge.

Younus said while it was good that more money was coming into the sport but that there was a need to balance things.

The veteran batsman said this was one of the reasons why he was keen to see a players association formed in Pakistan.

“I think schedules can be made after due consultations with representative bodies of the players at every level,” he added. — PTI

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