Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has raised concerns over the schedule for the Indian and Australian cricket teams following the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2023. Expressing his disapproval, Vaughan questioned the decision to commence a T20 series between the two World Cup finalists just four days after the grand finale.
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team and the Pat Cummins-led Australian team are set to face off in the final match of the World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19. However, their rivalry is not set to end there, as they will engage in a five-match T20I series shortly after the World Cup concludes.
Taking to social media, Vaughan voiced his discontent, stating that it doesn’t sit right with him that the two finalists will start a T20 series against each other merely four days later. He criticized the scheduling, deeming it as ‘complete greed and overkill.’
In a tweet, Vaughan expressed his sentiments: “It doesn’t sit right with me that the 2 finalists 4 days later will start a T20 series against each other… why can’t we allow players the chance to have a moment’s rest after a WC or whoever wins the chance to celebrate properly for a couple of weeks… It’s complete greed and overkill.”
The first T20I of the five-match series is slated to take place in Visakhapatnam on November 23, Thursday. Notably, this isn’t the first time teams have faced such a quick turnaround after a major tournament. England, for instance, played Australia in an ODI series shortly after winning the T20 World Cup last year.
It doesn’t right with me that the 2 finalists 4 days later will start a T20 series against each other .. why can’t we allow players the chance to have a moments rest after a WC or whoever wins the chance to celebrate properly for a couple of weeks .. It’s complete greed and over…
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 17, 2023
Cricket Australia (CA) has already announced the 14-member squad for the T20I series against India, with seven players from the World Cup squad being rested. Key players like David Warner, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa will retain their spots. Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, will also take a break, with assistant coach Andre Borovec stepping in to lead the team for the first time.
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The T20 series will kick off in Visakhapatnam, followed by matches in Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Nagpur, and Hyderabad, respectively. As the cricketing world discusses the post-World Cup schedule, Vaughan’s critique raises questions about player fatigue and the balance between cricketing action and player well-being.
