Waqar Younis on the ICC's Two-New Balls Rule in ODIs says, "Save the Art of Reverse Swing"
The league stage of the ODI World Cup 2023 has ended, and the tournament has reached its knockout stage. In the first semi-final, hosts India faced New Zealand on Wednesday, while South Africa is going to square off against Australia in the second semi-final match on Thursday. In the middle of the ongoing ICC event, former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis came up with an interesting suggestion regarding the council's rule of using two new balls in ODI cricket.
Waqar stated that the playing conditions in the 50-over format are too batter-friendly and suggested that one of the two new balls should be taken away after 30 overs and the remaining 20 overs should be bowled with the old ball.
Waqar wrote on “X” that "ODI cricket is too friendly for batters. Suggestion: @ICC2: new balls to start; take away 1 ball after 30 overs; continue with the other. At the end, that ball will only be 3. 5 overs old. We'll see some reverse at the end. Save the art of #ReverseSwing.”