How a new Test/ODI hybrid format and AI umpires could help the global game

In a new book, Stumps and Sovereignty: South Asian Cricket from Empire to the Digital Age, author Sufghan Sarwar Khan puts forward a series of new idea to help cricket in the post-colonial age

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Cricket's inextricable relationship with British colonialism across the world is a fascinating subject for students of both history and the sport.

But what of cricket's evolution in South Asia since those times? And how does the future look in countries where the game is worshipped?

In his book Stumps and Sovereignty: South Asian Cricket from Empire to the Digital Age, author Sufghan Sarwar Khan examines these questions – and more - in depth.

And, following his widespread travels across Asia, Khan also puts forward compelling cases for new innovations to the global game. 

"Coming from the subcontinent, cricket is practically religion, regardless of the economic or political situation," says Khan.

"It's a uniting force in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Afghanistan too.

"I've travelled massively across these countries and people tend to live in the present, so they don't know about the history of cricket; how it travelled from city to city and village to village.

"I wanted to dwell on cricket in the second half of the 20th century, as well as how the IPL and globalisation has changed cricket, because it's been like the second coming of Kerry Packer."

Having spoken to players, coaches and decision-makers across the subcontinent before deciding to write the book, Khan has been able to dwell on what changes would make the game more accessible and marketable across the world.

Among the potential innovations put forward in the book is a new format of cricket, something of a hybrid of Test and ODI played over two days.

"Cricket has a space for a fourth format," he says.

"If you think about it, every century has given us a new format, and I think games of two inning,s which are limited to 55 or 60 overs, would give a taste of longer format cricket to emerging nations like Nepal or Hong Kong.

"We want cricket to grow beyond the shores of six or seven countries, so why not introduce a new format of cricket where nations get that opportunity and that chance to compete and improve their skills?

^{Sufghan Khan, author of Stumps and Sovereignty: South Asian Cricket from Empire to the Digital Age}

"This book is about giving some tips of the upcoming generation."

As well as those emerging Asian nations, Khan believes his new format could help existing Test-playing countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He is also keen for cricket to expand into currently ignored Asian markets, including China, Korea and Japan.

"One of the reasons India and Pakistan have been on the level above when it comes to Test cricket is that they got independence in 1947 when there was only Test cricket, so their cricket was established on that basis," says Khan."During my journey I discovered this idea, which I believe will help us to improve and enhance the competitiveness of cricket.

"I spoke to coaches, support staff and players who were pretty supportive of the idea.

"In the media, we've got this idea that players are only interested in franchise leagues, but that's not the case."

Other ideas put forward in the book include the introduction of AI umpires adjudicating on referrals and the introduction of programmable pitches.

Highlighting county cricket's commitment to innovation throughout the years, from the Gillette Cup to T20, Khan also believes the UK has a role to play in pushing concepts that will help emerging nations.

"The UK is the birthplace of cricket and MCC are custodians of the laws, so being experimental at county level means any innovation gets more exposure and these ideas then travel far away," he says.

"The book also has special chapter about innovations in captaincy, which I hope people will find interesting."

Stumps and Sovereignty: South Asian Cricket from Empire to the Digital Age is available to buy from Amazon here