Franchise Cricket: Softening the edges of International Cricket?

[FearlessRoar]

In the world of cricket, things have changed a lot because of franchise leagues. The leagues like the PSL, CPL, BPL, and IPL, bring players from different countries together. But I feel this has made international cricket less intense.

Franchise cricket makes players from different countries buddies. They share the same dressing rooms and become friends beyond their own countries, creating TikTok videos together and sharing images on Instagram. But the not so good part is that this friendship might be making the fierce rivalries in cricket less strong. The traditional cricket matches that used to be super intense with lots of on field battles and rivalries are becoming more friendly. The sledging that was part of the game is happening less often because there's more focus on how players behave. Teams and cricket boards want to keep a good image to attract sponsors and fans from around the world. This might be stopping players from being too aggressive on the field.

The exciting matches where emotions were high and the competition was tough are not as common now. I miss those fierce and exciting games.

Do you prefer the intense rivalries of the past or enjoy the friendship among players from different countries?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Do you prefer the intense rivalries of the past or enjoy the friendship among players from different countries?

Well my preference is cool and calm cricket because it's only a game not WWE where you have to show aggression unnecessarily to take the game high and franchise cricket really helped to make relations better between cricketing nations.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Polls Added

 

[FearlessRoar]

Well my preference is cool and calm cricket because it's only a game not WWE where you have to show aggression unnecessarily to take the game high and franchise cricket really helped to make relations better between cricketing nations.

A cool and calm match is just like listening to soft melody music

 

[Asad T]

I think it actually increases competition. When players from other countries play in the same franchise, they may get friendly, but they also get more insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
And inevitably, when they play against each other in Nationals, they use that information against each other. I feel like that intensifies the competitive spirit.
Personally, this makes it more fun for me to watch -- seeing ex teammates go at each other during a WC just adds another dimention to play.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

PSL has destroyed Pakistani cricket.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

PSL has destroyed Pakistani cricket.

could u plz explain how?

because In my opinions its a best source to find the new talent!

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

could u plz explain how?

because In my opinions its a best source to find the new talent!

It's made them lazy. A lot of them are comfortable just living off PSL money. Some want more so they chase T20 leagues elsewhere but all of them now don't care about international cricket.

Where is this talent? We are worse now compared to 2015. No spinners, no batters and pacers bowling pies.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Franchise cricket has opened the gate for the players to earn a hefty amount, more than what they can earn while staying with the national team. Yes, it can uncover some emerging talent of the country as well. SO it has both negative and positive sides to it. I think there should we less franchise cricket to make is more competitive and the players will also have to word hard to reach that level.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think franchise cricket has made players friendlier toward each other. They play together in many different leagues worldwide.

It has impacted intensity in international cricket definitely. Players probably don't want to lose their T20 contracts and hence behave well.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

It's made them lazy. A lot of them are comfortable just living off PSL money. Some want more so they chase T20 leagues elsewhere but all of them now don't care about international cricket.

Where is this talent? We are worse now compared to 2015. No spinners, no batters and pacers bowling pies.

Agree to the extent that no spinners picked up from PSL in the past few years have lived up to their hype.

 

[AMSS]

If franchise cricket is softening the edge of international cricket then how come SENA teams are pounding Pakistan harder than they ever did in decades prior?

I don't see any evidence of softening in the pounding pakistan has received past few months

 

[MenInG]

If franchise cricket is softening the edge of international cricket then how come SENA teams are pounding Pakistan harder than they ever did in decades prior?

I don't see any evidence of softening in the pounding pakistan has received past few months

Is this your 2 cents to troll Pakistan or do you have a point?

 

[Devadwal]

Now players are becoming friends through playing together in league around the world .

Agression,fire are not visible anymore .that what make cricket more enjoyable specially test cricket .

 

[FearlessRoar]

Now players are becoming friends through playing together in league around the world .

Agression,fire are not visible anymore .that what make cricket more enjoyable specially test cricket .

Do you enjoy friendly matches?

 

[FearlessRoar]

If franchise cricket is softening the edge of international cricket then how come SENA teams are pounding Pakistan harder than they ever did in decades prior?

I don't see any evidence of softening in the pounding pakistan has received past few months

Because we are giving them Christmas gifts.

 

[FearlessRoar]

PSL has destroyed Pakistani cricket.

Not only PSL, but all franchise leagues.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Because we are giving them Christmas gifts.

The dropped catches?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The dropped catches?

yeah its even better than christmas gifts

 

[ahmadharis1]

Maybe it's just me but I watch this sport for the cricket and not the "aggression" or ferocity. Watching a match I'm never like "wow that bowler was aggressive to the batsman, i love this match". I got no issues with franchise cricket or players being cool with each other

 

[FearlessRoar]

The dropped catches?

It happened because of a lack of aggression and hunger for victory.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Maybe it's just me but I watch this sport for the cricket and not the "aggression" or ferocity. Watching a match I'm never like "wow that bowler was aggressive to the batsman, i love this match". I got no issues with franchise cricket or players being cool with each other

So, what do you actually enjoy while watching cricket? If cricket is just a time pass for you then franchise cricket is the best fit for you.

 

[ahmadharis1]

So, what do you actually enjoy while watching cricket? If cricket is just a time pass for you then franchise cricket is the best fit for you.

I like what everyone else likes...I like the bat and ball contest, good deliveries, big boundaries, centuries, wickets... It can be fun to see some ferocity here and there but it's not a huge reason I watch cricket. It's not a black and white scenario

 

[Devadwal]

Do you enjoy friendly matches?

Not really. I want some aggression and banter

 

[BouncerGuy]

Franchise cricket will prove to be an international game killer one day. We will be left with some mediocre guys playing useless games that nobody will be keen to watch anymore. Franchise cricket will become the centre of attraction if players are more interested in earning more money rather than their national duty.

 

[sam_ahm]

I think the more concerning part for me is that most players, not just from Pak but across the world have become complacent and no longer have the kind of hunger to do well at international level because they are happy with the franchise money they get.

Now players have started to threaten to retire if they feel they have been unreasonably dropped. Instead of going back to domestics and doing the hard work they are moving away from their own board and looking for franchises to pick them on the basis of their full time availability.

I mean how can a De Kock, Boult, Pollard, Aamer or Narine retiring early in their careers be good for international cricket?

Players are using their board to play for their country and get noticed by the franchises and then ditching their own board and committing to the franchises in the name of 'we have a family to look after'.

They speak about having a family to look after as if they are living in poverty and are struggling to make ends meet. Reality is that most of the players picked up by franchises are star players who have already made a name for themselves at international level and are obviously doing well financially.

 

[FearlessRoar]

I think the more concerning part for me is that most players, not just from Pak but across the world have become complacent and no longer have the kind of hunger to do well at international level because they are happy with the franchise money they get.

Now players have started to threaten to retire if they feel they have been unreasonably dropped. Instead of going back to domestics and doing the hard work they are moving away from their own board and looking for franchises to pick them on the basis of their full time availability.

I mean how can a De Kock, Boult, Pollard, Aamer or Narine retiring early in their careers be good for international cricket?

Players are using their board to play for their country and get noticed by the franchises and then ditching their own board and committing to the franchises in the name of 'we have a family to look after'.

They speak about having a family to look after as if they are living in poverty and are struggling to make ends meet. Reality is that most of the players picked up by franchises are star players who have already made a name for themselves at international level and are obviously doing well financially.

Recently Imad wasim did the same.

And these franchise cricketers are too friendly with each other, leading to reduced efforts at the international level against each other.

Here's another example: We had intense battles with Afghanistan on the field, but since their players started playing PSL, they've become friends. Now you can see how Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Rashid Khan are too friendly on the field. Similarly, Shadab Khan with Gurbaz. This wasn't the case before Afghan players participated in PSL.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Not really. I want some aggression and banter

Banter and aggression can't coexist on the field.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Today, I have been observing tweets from ILT20 2024. They have been posting cringy stuff with star players, making reels with songs as if they are all best friends. I mean, it is softening the images of cricketers, which, in the end, softens the edges of international cricket.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

How do these T20 leagues make money? Most of them are medicore nonsense.

Atleast in football there is context with champions league and structured club leagues.

Cricket has become such a mess and BCCI has destroyed governance of ICC. RIP

 

[greatest]

Franchises have killed cricket. Cricket has become so boring now.

 

[BouncerGuy]

This is not franchise cricket, this is Internation cricket killer and Test format killer. Players are earning money and they now lack desire and interest to play for their country. Pathetic.

 

[FearlessRoar]

You know, I've been thinking about how franchise cricket might be changing the game. It's cool to see the players showing their skills in different leagues, but I can't help feeling that it's affecting the intensity of international rivalries. The friendships built in franchise leagues might be making those big clashes we all used to love a bit less exciting. There's a five Test series going on between England and India, but we haven't seen any incidents of sledging. I was expecting a battle on the field due to delays in the visa process for Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed. But everything went smoothly.

I get it, players have to secure their future, and the money in these leagues is tempting. But when I watch a match now, it just doesn't have that same fire. Traditional rivalries seem less intense, and I miss the heated moments that made those games so memorable.And it's not just about the players, it's changing the way we watch cricket too.

I can't shake off the feeling that it's changing the heart of the game, affecting rivalries.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Those days are coming soon when there will be no window for international bilateral series, and there will be league cricket all around the year.

 

[FearlessRoar]

I was expecting some fight or controversy from today's RCB and KKR game in IPL 2024 between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. But during the time-out session, they were meeting each other nicely. If there are no rivalries and only friendship, how will we enjoy the cricket?

 

[jnaveen1980]

I was expecting some fight or controversy from today's RCB and KKR game in IPL 2024 between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. But during the time-out session, they were meeting each other nicely. If there are no rivalries and only friendship, how will we enjoy the cricket?

Harshit Rana showed aggression. They fined him. But IPL rivalry is far more intense off the field between fans especially CSK vs MI and CSK vs RCB and RCB vs MI due to star representation.

 

[FearlessRoar]

How soft cricket has become

No sledging, no on field and off field threats or fights. Where has that aggression gone? Today, we saw two rivals, England and Australia, playing, and even during the commentary, there was no spark. On the field, it was like calm mountains. I'm not enjoying it.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Rashid Khan credited franchise cricket for Afghanistan's strong showing in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he said in a post-match press conference after their win against PNG in an ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group C match:

"That is the beauty of playing of franchise cricket as you know the conditions, some of them have played at St Lucia and know how the pitch will play which will help others. Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition and hopefully, we will win that game (against WI) as well."

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Harshit Rana showed aggression. They fined him. But IPL rivalry is far more intense off the field between fans especially CSK vs MI and CSK vs RCB and RCB vs MI due to star representation.

CSK fans are nuts , RCB are forever delusional and MI fans are smug becuase Ambani money has bought and paid for the scripts ! True fans are of Kings XI if you can find any!