KARACHI, Sept 18: Former Pakistan captain and fast bowling legend Wasim Akram has cautioned that Twenty20 format of cricket may overshadow the future of traditional 50-overs-a-side fixtures.

“I fear for the future of fifty-over internationals because people now don’t have much time to watch cricket for the whole day. In Twenty20 cricket they get to watch a lot of exciting cricket in three, four hours. It is an ideal format for them,” Wasim noted.

He, however, declined to pick favourites for the ongoing Twenty20 World Championship, saying it was difficult to make predictions in such a format.

Wasim also expressed his disappointment over Pakistan’s defeat to India on the bowl-out rule.

“It was disappointing to see none of our bowlers could hit the target although we played well on the field. It was sad to see our bowlers didn’t take the bowl-out seriously. I don’t know why the pacers chose to bowl off a short run-up, it spoilt their rhythm,” Wasim said.

Wasim, who remains Pakistan’s highest Test and one-day wicket taker, also said he would be going to India on Sept 27 for his assignments with ESPN.

Meanwhile, Wasim rubbished reports that he had undergone a rehabilitation programme in a London hospital for a drugs related problem.

He said he had been under treatment in a hospital but it was for an acute sugar related problem and had nothing to do with drugs.

“Diabetes is not a new illness for me. I have played years of international cricket with it but it got a bit out of hand and I had to seek treatment,” an Urdu daily quoted him as saying on Monday. —Agencies