Pakistani cricketer Abid Ali has spoken about the importance of playing four-day cricket instead of T20 cricket. He stated that performances in T20 come and go but the importance of playing four-day domestic cricket can never be underestimated.

The growing emergence of T20 cricket has put the future of the other formats in jeopardy. Especially in Pakistan, many cricketers prefer the shorter format of the game rather than playing Test or FC cricket on the domestic circuit.

Even some big names in Pakistan cricket are prioritising T20s over the longer format of the game. This has resulted in the national cricket team failing to live up to expectations on the international stage in the longest format of the game.

Pakistan is a force to reckon with in T20Is but has struggled mightily in Tests and ODIs. While most players prefer the shorter format, there are still a few players who focus exclusively on red-ball cricket and are continuously putting in the work in domestic cricket.

Abid Ali admitted that T20 cricket is growing but player performance is reflected in the red ball, which he says teaches players a lot and makes them good players. In a video posted on Twitter, he explained:

“PSL, which is a Pakistani brand. The way the Pakistan Cricket Board has shown it, like there is IPL all over the world, it is being shown in that format. So, this is a short format, where sometimes there is performance and sometimes there isn’t. But in my opinion, in domestic cricket, the performance that you get in that format, three or four things teach you a lot of importance.

“First of all, you are mentally strong, then you get cricket awareness, your fitness is seen, because in four-day cricket, you are mentally, physically, your cricket awareness, everything is controlled. This is the name of Test Cricket, where you have a Test in four-day cricket or one-day cricket. You have a Test in four days. So, everything makes you a good player.”

Domestic cricket is our foundation – Abid Ali

Abid Ali further cited examples of great Pakistani players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-Ul-Haq, Fawad Alam and others who played local cricket as a priority. He stressed that local cricket is the foundation of a player and the more he plays it, the more confidence he will gain. He added:

“We have great examples in front of us, myself individually, then there is Azhar Ali, then there is Asad Shafiq, then there is Fawad Alam, then there is Misbah Bhai, then there is Younis Khan Sahib, then there is Inzy Bhai, then there is Yusuf Bhai. All of them came to domestic cricket, then preferred international cricket.

“Whenever we come here, we give importance to domestic cricket. In my opinion, domestic cricket is our base. In that sense, we have to strengthen the base. Based on that, we have to select, so that we can gain a lot of confidence. The more you try, the better player you will be,” he concluded.