Australia’s former spin sensation, Shane Warne, has advised India to use its growing influence on the world of cricket wisely and not to neglect the smaller nations because of the financial power the country posses.
Expressing his views in his column, the 41-year-old Victorian opined, “I think it’s important that India — which has become the centre of world cricket — uses her power responsibly. We don’t want the smaller nations to be trampled over in the search for more revenue.”
Warne who has been the captain of the Indian Premier League franchise, the Rajasthan Royals, played his last professional game on Friday in a match which was comprehensively won by his side against the SachinTendulkar-led Mumbai Indians.
Warne, among other changes in modern cricket, wants a more balanced approach to the contest between bat and ball.
“On the field, the big thing I’m looking for is a better balance between bat and ball. No one wants Test matches where 500 plays 450. We all need to play less cricket, and that way the grounds men will have more time to prepare good sporting wickets that give everyone — bowlers included — a fair go,” he wrote.
Warnie admitted that he found the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, the most difficult to bowl against and has always admired the way he plays against the world’s most difficult bowlers with complete ease.
Warne, who will no longer be seen as a player in the future editions of the lucrative IPL, reiterated that he had a wonderful time playing in the subcontinent and thanked the owners of the Royals for giving him the opportunity to play.
Warne’s last season of the league was struck with controversy when he ended up in a feud with the secretary of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), Sanjay Dixit.
The matter spilled out of hands as the two levelled accusations against each on twitter.
It was then that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to jump in. The board held a hearing in order to resolve the issue.
Warne was slapped a fine of $50,000 while both were warned not to discuss the matter any further.
Warne, however, termed the punishment as unfair and harsh, arguing that Dixit should also have been penalized. This debacle clearly spoiled a befitting farewell for the Australian who contributed a lot to the IPL and helped in promoting the Indian league globally.
He expressed the desire to remain in touch with the league however, hopefully with the Rajasthan Royals, if the management allows him but for now the cricketer is aiming to spend the rest of the summer with his sweetheart Elizabeth Hurley.
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