Kevin Pietersen expresses his concern over the future of international cricket

Former England skipper and currently a foreign recruit for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, Kevin Pietersen expressed his concern over the future of international cricket. Pietersen took to his twitter handle and wrote, “Poor crowd for Boxing Day Test match. Poor crowd at GABBA for today’s ODI. FULL HOUSES at BBL games. Where will cricket be in 5yrs”? It’s actually a pretty valid point put up by Pietersen considering the amount of domestic Twenty20 tournaments held throughout the world.

It is pretty pathetic to see a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne not attracting crowds and theoretically a domestic T20 competition having packed houses. Taking nothing away from the leagues, the future of international cricket looks really bleak seeing if the current trend is considered a fair view of the scenarios.

With T20 tournaments hosted all over the world, players are tempted to play more of the franchise tournaments rather than concentrating on the broader prospect. They are paid hefty sums for their contracts which in turn is adversely affecting the game. Unlike players from the yesteryears whose only aim was to represent his nation, things are a lot different now.

After the emergence of IPL in 2008, all the cricketing nations are hosting their domestic T20 tournaments which is attracting a substantial cricketing crowd. With the generation getting to watch enthralling and excitement cricket in 40 overs, they are now reluctant to watch Test matches and ODIs which go on for more than 7 hours in a day.

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Pietersen who is currently playing for the Melbourne Stars in the ongoing BBL has been in good touch so far and scored a brilliant match-winning half century in the Melbourne derby very recently. He was also in terrific form for the Dolphins in the CSA T20 Challenge and struck two match-winning half-centuries during the tournament. Pietersen played his last international match against Australia in 2014 before being left out from the squad ever since.

Poor crowd for Boxing Day Test match. Poor crowd at GABBA for today's ODI. FULL HOUSES at BBL games. Where will cricket be in 5yrs?

— KP (@KP24) January 13, 2017