New Delhi: The T20 format has long been recognized as the medium that can make cricket a global game. Ireland’s recent series win over world champions India was a reminder of how the game has evolved outside the current powerhouses of world cricket. Former Indian offspinner Ravichandran AshwinHe believes that the future of cricket lies in T20 and not in the ODI format.“If the game has to become global, and if it has to become an Olympic sport, then the smaller the game, the more viable it will be. And that’s how it will get much bigger. You will see a better sample size of players, which is very important for many of these year-round leagues. T20 cricket is here to stay. I am not sure about ODI cricket,” Ashwin, who will captain the Dublin Guardians franchise in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), told. times of India During a conversation after the inaugural draft on Thursday. “The Olympics are going to happen in a few years. And if cricket as a sport is serious about making it a global affair, the teams in this league will play a very important role in enabling that,” he said.Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who owns the Amsterdam Flames, also spoke on the growing strength of European cricket. Waugh said, “We have just seen how strong European cricket is. I mean, beating world champions India 2-0 in the T20 series shows the potential of cricket in Europe. I think there are some great players across Europe, especially in the Netherlands, Scotland and Ireland.”