‘The end game has begun for international cricket’
-Photo by AFP
Read the signs. The West Indies players in individual capacity at the IPL ruled the format. Try to gather them under the West Indies flag and you get a flat, anaemic unit — as if forced to take the field.
In fact, as a national team they are so unenthusiastic about playing their favourite T20 format that they are languishing below Ireland in the ICC rankings. Kevin Pietersen, arguably the best entertainer in the game and a great advertiser for the shorter format, has chosen to retire from it, not bothering about the responsibility that he carries as an iconic player towards the international circuit. It’s like Roger Federer withdrawing from the Grand Slams to play exhibition matches only!
A sound source also confirms that around 30 Pakistani players have been signed up to play the SPL (Sri Lanka Premier League).
If given the choice, and I can confirm as the views have been shared with me, most would only play the League circuit where they feel wanted and are better valued. In fact, you are given to believe that most players around the world are treating their selection for international matches as a springboard to land up in the lap of a franchisee!
The intense expression on the faces of top Indian players to perform at the IPL games is another strong signal that either the guys care more about franchise cricket or find the competition more exciting than the tedious grind of international cricket.
The international cricket management hit a new low when the Sri Lankan players were forced to play on an empty stomach for almost eight months while being on national duty. Naturally, their performance and morale took a beating! Just look at the results of the team during the period they were not paid: Sri Lanka lost to Australia at home, were beaten by Pakistan in Tests, ODIs and T20 and taken down by South Africa. The entire critical run was witnessed by the managers of the game who didn’t care to fix the situation. The Lankans were allowed to slither downhill quite happily!
Ravindra Jadeja is a clear case of how inconsequential international cricket has become. The all-rounder is yet to play a Test match — the ultimate level for judging a player’s calibre — but got picked for US$2 million at the IPL auction. The market forces are reading the value of a player based on a different scale, and international cricket is not the benchmark any more.
The lack of expression from the players when it comes to international cricket is understandable. It stems from flawed governance and skewed distribution of resources. The selection inconsistencies and low income sharing of the produce with the players, who have significantly contributed towards it, makes it a fractious environment.
Add to it a tired international calendar that pits strong against the weak, Asia v Asia, dwindling cash receipts at the counter, and you get a perfect storm! The errors in the system are now getting magnified because it has a competitor in the shape of franchises.
It is not a compact surrounding, but still streets ahead of how assets should be handled. Players have peace of mind and pockets full of goodies.
The cricket boards all over have to come up with a healthy plan that breeds nationalism and takes care of the material needs of the players to offset the lure and charm of the ‘League bling’.
I think they are already late in this exercise since the players, after being exposed to good management and opportunities, are charged up to retaliate against what they believe has been a dictatorial set-up where they have been engaged in a master-slave relationship.
And their trust in franchise model is not for money alone. It is about recognition also, best against the best that inspires them to be a rebel.
With meaningless international contests taking shape in front of empty stands and formats being allowed to eat into each others territories, it is building up towards a fantastic recipe for disaster!
Rameez has written his observation from his own first hand experience. His article is very well written. I think, the article is leting us know that, the nature of cricket is changing with the introduction of Leagues(Franchises) all over the world. IPL is the most expensive and very well organised League which attracted a lot of Big names from all over the cricketing world.
The article says that T20 league(s) have made watching cricket into a Very exciting event. All other formats look ancient compared to T20 games. Once again, IPL being the most expensive amongst all other Leagues which has created a new standard in T20 format. We will see players opting to prefer to play in this format vs Internationally. We already have a few big names re.
Totally agreed. IPL is based on T20 format which is street cricket only. It is giving fame to those you are not capable players. In this format player like dravid , laxman, kallis are not heroes. This format forcing good batman to use unorthodox techniques to accelerate run rate which spoil their game over the period of time. It is obvious that amount of money involved in that will lure anyone to be more focus on franchise game rather than international cricket. However I also brought good talent in the lime light which is good for Indian cricket. I think the key issue is that it will spoil the game of new generation as youngsters will now want to be hard hitter rather than Tendulkar or Gavaskar.
Yes I agree the shorter format 20/20 has more commercial appeal as against traditional matches. When it comes to marketing Cricket Boards all around the world are lacking and their business model is out dated. For players it is their bread and butter, obviously economic considerations are very important.
A number of people did nto even understood the article.
Some hard facts were made out,this situation is best reflected in the Windies.The Lankan Board has inflicted humiliation on itself by allowing its players to go unpaid for months.No remorse.
The Big guns slugged it out and made there bread while the lesser ones slept hungry.Shame.What national pride.The Lankan players were warned against protest ,lest the dont get the NOC.
As to Jadeja it was Dhoni who got the CSK to pay Jadeja that much money.Ask Sreenivasan he will be fuming.He can afford to pay for his Skippers whims and fancies.
Very soon we will have guys who will be available for League cricket and nothing else.
Pointless article. England Australia south Africa haven’t experienced lack of calibre or enthusiasm. India largely benefited by identifying good talent. Why can't we replicate a similar model in Pakistan on a domestic level and identify fresh talent instead of having sub par players like hafeez leading the side. Funding is not expected to be an issue and getting coverage will be easier given our media setup. West indies cricket has been in decline since 1996, IPL underscores their individual talent and exposes structural problem in their board / cricket infrastructure. International cricket may experience less interest in Pakistan due to lack of trust in the team.
Ramiz, I like your article and fully agree with it but then why are your there doing commentary in IPL and other leagues, the only reason is money and same with the players also…you should set your self as an example
This is a fantastic obsevation and a wake up call for all cricketing nations. To call the League matches as a franchise is well said. The real matches are between nations. Good article.
I find amusing his claim "The cricket boards all over have to come up with a healthy plan that breeds nationalism and takes care of the material needs of the players to offset the lure and charm of the ‘League bling’." It is not Cricket Boards responsibility to breed nationalism.
Just an attempt to discredit IPL as it is by and large an Indian show and Pakistani players are not playing in it.
I think (twenty twenty) Cricket premier league system is not enemy of One day and test cricket because this is for the first time in the history of cricket when a new format has highlighted the threats and weaknesses to one day and test cricket on an overall basis from board governance, management system to investment and revenues of the game are all struggling for its stable and long term form and attraction for the fans in these two formats are diminishing as compared to premier league which quickly pays off your investment in terms of time, money and energy, but it will not be justifying to promote the growth of one day and test cricket at the cost of premier league rather it will be against the spirit of innovation and creativity which is at the heart of every field from sports to space industry and from cinema to psychometric testing every industry is enriching with innovation and change and showing new dimensions and commitment of learning growth and development in the twenty first century which is exactly the requirement of knowledge economy and endorses the globalization process.
On the other hand, I think time has come to save the one day and test cricket formats with new strategy and tactics, otherwise fast growing premier league attractions won't left any margin of hope and then only T10 (ten, ten) will be the new rival of twenty twenty.
West Indies is not a nation. Players playing in the team are from different countries. It is like a manufactured team like ASIA Eleven, World ELEVEN etc. No wonder players are not enthusiastic about playing for west indies.