- Joined
- Apr 13, 2025
- Runs
- 1,738
Brathwaite is among the first crop of players who had played T20 leagues around the world and have seen all the lifestyle had to offer.
However, he felt that the glitz and glamour of franchise cricket often masks the big financial struggles players in them face. In a blog LinkedIn profile, the 37-year-old revealed that three franchises he had played for previously had delayed paying him for months on end while one franchise is yet to pay him.
The post reads:
"In recent years, franchise cricket has exploded from the glitz of the IPL to start-ups in the smallest Associate nations. With the boom has come a growing crack in the system: late payments, or worse, no payments at all. It’s a pandemic. One that players especially local and up-and-coming talent feel most sharply.
In 2024, I personally had three franchise contracts where payments were delayed 6 to 8 months. As I write this in July 2025, I’m still owed money from one of them. And if this is happening to me, imagine what it's like for a young local player making his debut. The harsh reality? That young player might’ve taken leave from work, betting on an opportunity that should’ve been life-changing, but left him without income from either his job or the tournament. A vendor supplying meals, refreshments, or transport, waiting for a cheque that may never arrive. That vendor may never do business with cricket again. What kind of introduction is that to our sport?
Should we expect players to vet the tournament owners themselves? Or maybe agents to do the homework and only recommend secure gigs? Should the World Cricketers Association (WCA) ensure funds are liquid before a player signs? Or should the ICC, which already has sanctioning power, mandate that all player salaries (plus a buffer—say 10% for operational costs) be held in escrow before a ball is bowled?
There’s also the question of territorial boards. If a board signs off on a tournament in its country, should it share in the liability if players aren’t paid? Especially when their endorsement is what gives these events legitimacy in the first place?
After all, for a franchise tournament to be ICC-sanctioned, it already has to meet rigorous requirements: vetting the promoter, ensuring anti-corruption compliance, and securing NOCs for overseas players. So why not simply require that money to pay players and staff is actually available and protected?
We’re quick to showcase our growth as a sport through shiny new leagues, but late payments leave a stain, not just on tournaments but on cricket itself. The integrity of our game doesn’t stop at match-fixing; it extends to how we treat people behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, this isn't about millionaires chasing more millions. It's about protecting young dreams, community trust, and the basic principle of doing what we said we'd do; paying people for their work.
So again I ask: Who pays the players? And more importantly, who makes sure they get paid?"
Brathwaite has appeared for over two dozen franchises in his career, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
In 2024, Brathwaite played for Gulf Giants in the International League T20 (ILT20) and for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and in the Global Super League (GSL).
However, he felt that the glitz and glamour of franchise cricket often masks the big financial struggles players in them face. In a blog LinkedIn profile, the 37-year-old revealed that three franchises he had played for previously had delayed paying him for months on end while one franchise is yet to pay him.
The post reads:
"In recent years, franchise cricket has exploded from the glitz of the IPL to start-ups in the smallest Associate nations. With the boom has come a growing crack in the system: late payments, or worse, no payments at all. It’s a pandemic. One that players especially local and up-and-coming talent feel most sharply.
In 2024, I personally had three franchise contracts where payments were delayed 6 to 8 months. As I write this in July 2025, I’m still owed money from one of them. And if this is happening to me, imagine what it's like for a young local player making his debut. The harsh reality? That young player might’ve taken leave from work, betting on an opportunity that should’ve been life-changing, but left him without income from either his job or the tournament. A vendor supplying meals, refreshments, or transport, waiting for a cheque that may never arrive. That vendor may never do business with cricket again. What kind of introduction is that to our sport?
Should we expect players to vet the tournament owners themselves? Or maybe agents to do the homework and only recommend secure gigs? Should the World Cricketers Association (WCA) ensure funds are liquid before a player signs? Or should the ICC, which already has sanctioning power, mandate that all player salaries (plus a buffer—say 10% for operational costs) be held in escrow before a ball is bowled?
There’s also the question of territorial boards. If a board signs off on a tournament in its country, should it share in the liability if players aren’t paid? Especially when their endorsement is what gives these events legitimacy in the first place?
After all, for a franchise tournament to be ICC-sanctioned, it already has to meet rigorous requirements: vetting the promoter, ensuring anti-corruption compliance, and securing NOCs for overseas players. So why not simply require that money to pay players and staff is actually available and protected?
We’re quick to showcase our growth as a sport through shiny new leagues, but late payments leave a stain, not just on tournaments but on cricket itself. The integrity of our game doesn’t stop at match-fixing; it extends to how we treat people behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, this isn't about millionaires chasing more millions. It's about protecting young dreams, community trust, and the basic principle of doing what we said we'd do; paying people for their work.
So again I ask: Who pays the players? And more importantly, who makes sure they get paid?"
Brathwaite has appeared for over two dozen franchises in his career, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
In 2024, Brathwaite played for Gulf Giants in the International League T20 (ILT20) and for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and in the Global Super League (GSL).
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