Klaasen: Low-Scoring T20 Matches Enhance Competition, But Not a "Great Selling Product"

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen has expressed mixed feelings about the low-scoring matches at the ICC T20 World Cup in New York. While acknowledging that the format may not be appealing to casual fans, he believes it enhances the competitiveness and entertainment value for cricket enthusiasts.

"For cricket lovers, it's still good cricket," Klaasen said. "But if you have to showcase it to the world and sell it, I don't think it's a great selling product."

Klaasen's comments come after South Africa's thrilling four-run victory over Bangladesh in a match that went down to the final ball. The low-scoring affair highlighted the challenges of batting on the slow and bouncy pitches in New York.

Despite the difficulties, Klaasen believes the format levels the playing field and makes every game a potential upset. "It brings the other teams and the higher teams very close to each other," he said. "So, the game is open to any team that does the basics of cricket very well."

Klaasen also acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing in such tight matches. "For us, it's very nerve-wracking, because every game becomes a really big game," he said. "There are no easy games for us, especially in our group."

Looking ahead to the Super 8 stage in the Caribbean, Klaasen believes that scores around 160-170 will be competitive on the more batting-friendly wickets there. He also expressed openness to expanding cricket to other countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Russia.

"I think there are a lot of places where cricket can go," Klaasen said. "We are open as cricketers anywhere as long as it's good conditions and we can play good cricket."

Tags: #ICC, T20, World, Cup, #South