'There is a thorough re-evaluation needed' - Ian Chappell slams the ICC for the current 'unworkable' scheduling

Former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the ‘unworkable’ cricket schedule that has been put in place in recent times. The Australian even compared the blown-up schedule to a land mine.

Chappell also drew parallels between the current scheduling mess in cricket with a dialogue from a Hollywood movie between two comedians Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel.

“Hollywood comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy’s signature line, ‘Well, here’s another fine mess you’ve got me into’, could easily apply to cricket’s current scheduling predicament. In the comedians’ case it was heavyweight Hardy accusing his bumbling partner Laurel of yet another blunder.

Cricket has only itself to blame for the bloated, unworkable schedule that the Covid pandemic has blown up like a left-over land mine,” wrote Ian Chappell for ESPN Cricinfo.

The treatment meted out to Pakistan appears to be excessively harsh: Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell further added that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the current scheduling of matches needs a thorough re-evaluation. He also stated that this would need all the countries to come together in the best interest of the game.

The 78-year-old also opined that the way Pakistan has been treated in recent months, with both New Zealand and England pulling out of their limited-overs tours to Pakistan is harsh in nature.

“Nevertheless that is what is needed – some sympathy, in the light of the constant Covid disruptions to the international calendar. From cricket’s point of view, the only good that could come from the pandemic is a thorough re-evaluation of the schedule. However, that would require the cricket countries to come together in good faith with a view to making decisions in the best interests of the game.

There’s no doubt that completing cricket tours unhindered during the pandemic is a precarious business. Just surviving from day to day is an accomplishment in the current climate. The treatment meted out to Pakistan, in particular, appears to be excessively harsh, considering the way they have unselfishly toured other countries during the pandemic,” wrote Chappell.