Michael Holding Says IPL Not Cricket, Asks ICC Not To Turn Sport Into Soft-Ball

Former West Indies pace bowler and commentator Michael Holding has cocked a snook at the Indian Premier League (IPL), terming it not quite cricket. "I only commentate on cricket," said Holding in an i

He said that while safety is important, it is important to not turn cricket into soft-ball competition.

"You try and protect people as much as you can, yes. That is why people are wearing helmets and improving helmets now. That is why they do so much to try and protect them because people's lives are important. But don't turn it into a soft-ball competition," he added. The 67-year-old Jamaican lamented that England, the birthplace of cricket, is putting shorter formats ahead of Test cricket.

"England, they say, is the mother of cricket where the game started before all the colonialists took it around the world. The best months in England are supposed to be the summer months, right? Is yearly Test cricket being played? They play in May and early June. The next Test match is on August 4. This has been going on for two-three summers in England. So, it's obvious that they are putting other forms of cricket over Test cricket," he said.