Andhracafe.com- Durban, Sep 20 (IANS) Despite its growing popularity, Twenty20 cricket has created a monster that could overwhelm the International Cricket Council (ICC), former South African Test player Adam Bacher told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here.

Bacher, who also achieved considerable success in this new format at the domestic level before retiring from the game, said Twenty20 had become 'incredibly successful, but is going to become a problem for the international cricket administrators'.

'They will have to carefully consider where its place is. It may not be too long, if it isn't already the case, that Twenty20 becomes the most popular form of the game,' he said.

'The ICC will still want Test cricket and conventional one-day cricket to enjoy preference, but Twenty20 is rapidly overtaking (these formats). Because of the spectator enthusiasm, Twenty20 will generate the biggest revenue, which will be a major factor in determining the status of this format.'

However, Bacher conceded, the new format could also play an important role in developing the game.

'Rather than getting the smaller countries to play in the World Cup, they could be involved to a greater extent in tournaments such as the Twenty20 World Championships to give them a head start in the cricketing arena.'

Bacher was concerned that youngsters would not learn the basics of cricket with Twenty20.

'Although Twenty20 is wonderful and is sure to be the future of the game, I am concerned about the influence it will have on young players.

'You must first master the basics of the game, especially batting, before you start playing shots as is the case in Twenty20. Young children who are over-exposed to Twenty20 before they master the basics can develop bad (playing) habits.'