Botham opposes cricket's entry into Olympics

Abu Dhabi: England all-rounder Ian Botham is as dashing as he was as a player in his views on cricket. Botham, who is here to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards, spoke about the various aspects of the game.

Answering a query from Gulf News on the impact of Twenty20, Botham said: "Twenty20 World Cup should be held only once in four years. International cricket is too congested. I cannot understand why there should be another Twenty20 World Cup when the last one got over only last June in England. This is the problem with authorities. This is nothing but sheer greed."

Botham even warned that excess of Twenty20 will be very dangerous. "What is happening now is that they are virtually killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It is just like watching your most favourite film again and again and soon it will become your least favourite," he added.

Criticism

Botham also hit out at the attempt to include cricket in Olympics. "Cricket and football should not be in the Olympics. No professional sports should be there. For me, Olympics is Track and Field. There is nothing more exciting than seeing Usain Bolt breaking records and seeing people jumping further and running faster. I even have a problem coming to terms with seeing Roger Federer playing in Olympics. I only hope that the Olympics do not lose their identity by including all these sports."

Botham feels that there is no attempt to market Test cricket. "Recently we had the World No.1 [India] and Word No.2 [South Africa] playing just two Test matches during the series. The matches should also have been held in the best venues. In the next few months the Ashes will be held Down Under and it will be difficult to get tickets. You need to market it and allow Test cricket to flourish."

When asked about England having different captains like Paul Collingwood, Alaistar Cook and Andrew Strauss now, Botham said: "Strauss should have been in the team. He cannot be exhausted with his batting. Now you have got only Pakistan at home, which England may expect to win comfortably. So there is not much cricket before the Ashes."

Twenty20: Vaughan bets on England

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who is here for the Laureus World Sports Award, feels that England may win a major tournament in the Twenty20 form of the game. Speaking to Gulf News, Vaughan who retired in June 2009, said: "Twenty20 is a game in which one individual can win it for you. In fifty over matches, you need at least three guys to do it. We now have guys who can clear the ropes and hit sixes which we could not do for a long time. It is a big call to go and win the Twenty20 World Cup but it is one form of the game that we can win."

When asked about the disappointment of not having led the team to a major victory, Vaughan said: "We are getting very close. Our One-day team is in good hands. It is going in the right direction because we have got good power now."