'Is ICC sleeping?' - Inzamam-ul-Haq irked with NZ players pulling out of Pakistan series for IPL

[U$ofA]

I mean English and Aussie players will choose to play in the Ashes due to the prestige attached to it. Financially, I am not sure if or not it would be more beneficial to the players but it would be a close call. You also seem to be suggesting that if purely based on money then the IPL is much more of an appeal to players.

When the tier one players of a team (NZ), captain on down choose IPL over national duty, the players have clauses in their contract that says no international cricket when IPL is on, what does one say?

SL players also had the no international duty during IPL clause in their contracts. Not sure if that is still the case. And we all know what the WI and SA players did/do for the IPL.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Players are prioritizing IPL because they are deliberately being put in a situation to do so.

You continue to fail to understand that.

Nobody has a problem with the IPL unless it impacts the series of their respective nations.

T20 leagues in general are going to become a problem.

At the moment, IPL provides the highest paycheck. Who's to say in a few years, another league on Arab money pays the biggest bucks in town?

Now you have more, and more, and more leagues disrupting the flow of international cricket.

Not to mention the politics, misuse of power, threats etc that happens behind the glamorous IPL stage.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

We need to focus on what we can control which is our performance. If a second string England is whitewashing you, you have no right to complain regarding what players the opposition is providing you.

We need to start winning and earn some respect. Once that is achieved, teams would be more inclined to send stronger teams rather than testing their bench strength.

And winning would also increase the interest of the public in the games which could be used to fetch better broadcasting and monetary deals.

Players are clearly choosing the easy money earned for 2 months which may well be more than what they would earn per year through international cricket. Even "if" 7 or 8 regulars of Pakistan were to get such deals, I am sure atleast half of them would choose money over missing a tour.

COVID induced travel restrictions and bio bubbles and quarantines are making it even more difficult for players to fly midway from a domestic tournament to another country etc.

 

[Balthazar]

It's hard to fathom that people still watch bilateral series in this day and age. Except for world events, I can not bring myself to watch these games.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Players will priortise IPL unless they have a Big 3 or NZ tour these days.

Its sad that pakistan has fallen down the pecking order these days that players skip pakistan series to play the IPL.

1st NZ series in 18 yrs and most of the 1st team skips it. The emotions of pakistani fans is understandable.

But before bashing IPL, think if pakistan was a top 3 team, wont the players think twice before skipping a pakistan tour?

 

[PakLFC]

When the tier one players of a team (NZ), captain on down choose IPL over national duty, the players have clauses in their contract that says no international cricket when IPL is on, what does one say?

SL players also had the no international duty during IPL clause in their contracts. Not sure if that is still the case. And we all know what the WI and SA players did/do for the IPL.

As I say it suggests that the IPL is more important so what is that you disagree with? This is what I am saying that other then perhaps the Ashes the IPL will be given priority over other tournaments has been the case for a while.

 

[PakLFC]

I have read reports regarding Ashes losing viewership and sponsorship money. Australia had to schedule series with India to earn profits. Even Olympics this time had massive drop in viewership. I guess new generation is more into social media and becoming an internet celebrity. Sports is losing fans in general. My younger cousins are more into IPL than international cricket.

I don't blame them. Just look at the West Indies-Pak series. It lacks atmosphere and any excitement. Would also have been the case if there was no pandemic.

 

[BDfanforever]

I thought the purpose of IPL was that it would be held when much of international games are not ON. These days IPL seems to be on every few months in between.

 

[BDfanforever]

It's hard to fathom that people still watch bilateral series in this day and age. Except for world events, I can not bring myself to watch these games.

I can't fathom how people can watch city vs city match-ups? It's boring as hell.

 

[IcedCoffee]

Secondly, IPL is ensuring that future for cricketers is secure so that most cricketers will aspire for IPL and similar other leagues if they also offer hefty paychecks.

This is similar to league football, where players want to be in Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid when they grow up as footballers.

Their country matters too. But only in World Cups and qualifiers and Euros. Because what those clubs give, the country simply cannot in finance.

Cricket will revolve around LEAGUES and international cricket would be World Cup every 4 years.

We can have a T20 cup every 4 years like the Euros.

The only cricket that would suffer would be Test Cricket but I actually already fear for Tests.

No one has the time to sit for 5 days at grounds for an outcome of a match that might end as a draw with rain or draw.

The world is fast paced.

Much as I like tests, they simply have no niche anymore.

No game goes 40 hours without a result.

Not even golf.

Is that really the future we want for cricket?

Trigger warning for IPL lovers:

It amazes me that a league that is given so much accommodation be in terms of clauses in contracts or international windows and priority by intl. boards, openly discriminates against a people ie Pak players, not in the IPL. Is that what the future is going to be where we let power-hungry boards play politics and kick out rivals simply because they're able to?

But that aside, I still do think Intl. Cricket should get priority and preference over T20 leagues regardless of who's playing in the league or not.

Perhaps they need to add great value to these "CWC Super League" games instead of most of the full members automatically qualifying.

 

[U$ofA]

Is that really the future we want for cricket?

Trigger warning for IPL lovers:

It amazes me that a league that is given so much accommodation be in terms of clauses in contracts or international windows and priority by intl. boards, openly discriminates against a people ie Pak players, not in the IPL. Is that what the future is going to be where we let power-hungry boards play politics and kick out rivals simply because they're able to?

But that aside, I still do think Intl. Cricket should get priority and preference over T20 leagues regardless of who's playing in the league or not.

Perhaps they need to add great value to these "CWC Super League" games instead of most of the full members automatically qualifying.

What you say about the future is very much the present. You are one of the very few who has said something about upgrading/improving international cricket rather than trying to shut down IPL.

Most posters seem to want to shut down IPL through force or whatever means (not that it is going to happen). But regardless, the focus should be on how to make international cricket more interesting and financially attractive rather than spend time trying to take down a domestic league.

Now, how and what does international cricket do to get to a position where it is just as attractive as IPL?

 

[Balthazar]

I can't fathom how people can watch city vs city match-ups? It's boring as hell.

8 teams competing in a tournament vs a meaningless bilateral series. A big difference.

 

[hitthestump]

8 teams competing in a tournament vs a meaningless bilateral series. A big difference.

IPL is as meaningless as anything too bro.

 

[Balthazar]

IPL is as meaningless as anything too bro.

Better quality than most international games in this format.

 

[Snowflake]

Better quality than most international games in this format.

When it comes to power hitting, yes. But there are other dimensions to cricket.

You still see better quality bowling at the international level, especially in Test cricket.

 

[Snowflake]

It's hard to fathom that people still watch bilateral series in this day and age. Except for world events, I can not bring myself to watch these games.

Not a single non-Indian person would have any kind of emotional/sentimental attachment to any of the teams in IPL. They might root for certain players, but they'll have no association with the team at all! For non-Indians, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai... Who cares?

However, every cricket fan has a strong sense of association with their national team and will support it and root for it whenever and however it competes. So, as an Indian, it might be hard for you, but it's pretty easy and natural for others.

 

[Balthazar]

Not a single non-Indian person would have any kind of emotional/sentimental attachment to any of the teams in IPL. They might root for certain players, but they'll have no association with the team at all! For non-Indians, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai... Who cares?

However, every cricket fan has a strong sense of association with their national team and will support it and root for it whenever and however it competes. So, as an Indian, it might be hard for you, but it's pretty easy and natural for others.

As an Indian, I don't watch Indian bilateral series either. WTC, World tournaments and T20 leagues are the only things that's worth watching, from a viewers perspective.

 

[Babbar]

Not a single non-Indian person would have any kind of emotional/sentimental attachment to any of the teams in IPL. They might root for certain players, but they'll have no association with the team at all! For non-Indians, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai... Who cares?

However, every cricket fan has a strong sense of association with their national team and will support it and root for it whenever and however it competes. So, as an Indian, it might be hard for you, but it's pretty easy and natural for others.

There’s no expectation right now that non-Indians will watch IPL. Some will still do, those who enjoy top-class entertaining T20 matches with lots of marketing hype and Tamasha. It’s a domestic tournament where top overseas players are invited to entertain the Indian viewers who are paying too rupee for them.

Similarly, non-locals watch EPL LaLiga, NBA, even when most countries, incl India, Pak, have hardly any player there. Most Indians or even Germans would not have heard of small cities these teams are based on- Watford, Burnley, Getafe anyone

Going forward however, there’s a possibility that countries themselves will start disbanding their T20 circuses unable to recover losses. IPL will be organised in a much expanded dedicated time slot and with a higher cut to ICC.

Most T-20 leagues are unviable really, surviving on initial excitement or due to the egos of their cricket or political honchos. In this sense, T20 leagues are like national airlines. Every country, even Rwanda, has to have one for ‘national pride’. But even British Airways got privatised and Indian Airlines is hopefully returning to Tatas in a few months.

Also as in any business, consolidation of T20 leagues will take place in a few years. From 10,000 e-commerce sites or 100 taxi-hailing apps, just a couple prospered. Rest will die or serve small hyper local markets like Mysore, Ranchi or Gujarawalan T20 league.

 

[Itachi]

Not a single non-Indian person would have any kind of emotional/sentimental attachment to any of the teams in IPL.

Of course. The "I" in IPL is what makes it exclusively emotional attachment with Indian. Why the hell non Indians will attach emotions.

Should I attached emotions with APL or PSL?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Not a single non-Indian person would have any kind of emotional/sentimental attachment to any of the teams in IPL. They might root for certain players, but they'll have no association with the team at all! For non-Indians, Mumbai, Delhi or Chennai... Who cares?

However, every cricket fan has a strong sense of association with their national team and will support it and root for it whenever and however it competes. So, as an Indian, it might be hard for you, but it's pretty easy and natural for others.

Why are non Indian companies like Supersports, Bein, SKY, OSN, FB, Amazon bidding for IPL rights?

 

[Abu_Hamza]

Why doesnt Inzy and others understand that a series with PAK cricket team is neither attractive nor has high stakes involved in it anymore. So, the players will skip Pak Series to play in IPL which offers them lucrative deal. People should make peace with it. Living in past and in denial mode wont change reality. Players will even start skipping a series with Pak to have some rest in future and other teams will test their bench strength as even C and D sides are smashing Pak team.

 

[Varun]

Can Pakistan win the series against NZ B before talking about this please?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Can Pakistan win the series against NZ B before talking about this please?

They should.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I think people have mostly got it all wrong.

Lets start with T20 First.

What association does Pakistan have to Mumbai or Delhi or any other franchises? None. But what association does England or Australia have to the same Mumbai or Delhi? That their players play in the league. That is a slight association. Most people simply watch IPL because it offers a good competition for the T20 cricket compared to other leagues.

Viewership will go up, once the IPL becomes the industry standard for cricket. And then it will be the go to league for everyone.

Why does every rookie of the year want to play NBA. I started following Le Bron James since he joined the Cavaliers. He wanted to play NBA. And he got there. And the money poured in. And he made it big because NBA offered the big bucks for his family and future.

Similarly, why does a young kid aspire to play for Manchester United even if he grows up in Africa? Why does he aspire to emulate the heroics of Messi or Ronaldo or Salah even if he grows up in Vietnam? Because people follow players. And players follow the major clubs. The major clubs is where the money is.

In the long scheme of things, IPL is where the money is going to be. So instead of fighting and complaining and *******izing the demise of cricket, people should accept that we have to find a way to make IPL more appealing to EVERY cricketer. And the format is short and robust and the game ends in 3 hours maximum.

That includes including a way where IPL could accept Pakistani cricketers as well because talent SHOULD NOT exclude based on nationalities.

The future is going to be the IPL and perhaps a secondary league. What the other nations can do is pool their resources together and find a secondary ICC sanctioned league where the people who don't get accepted in IPL auctions, can play as lets say Champions League T20 Cricket Tournament.

Regarding Test Cricket, I have a fond addiction for tests.

But I have come to accept that time constraints in this world, cannot allow this format to survive in the next 10 to 20 years.

Even now I watch highlights of the Pakistan WI tests on DSTV or India England on Kayo sports because 30 minutes highlights is the time I have to watch all the events that happened during the 8 hours.

Realistically, ,how many of you, with jobs watch a 40 hour slugfest that ends in a draw?

Regarding ODIs, I think they will keep status quo.

Not a money spinner but the Cricket World Cup every 04 years will make sure ODI series is a trial format for most teams to test their fringe players (except Pakistan of course, who play even their full strength against Namibia).

In my opinion, IPL is the industry standard and all the remaining leagues should learn from it, and organize a secondary league in such a way that the IPL remnants can make a good Champions League T20 tournament. Perhaps organize it right after IPL with a promotion / relegation system into 2nd tier league.

That is the only way forward, if we dont wish to alienate ourselves.

 

[Babbar]

As far as I know Non-resident Indian billionaires like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella & Google’s Sundar Pichai watch & follow Indian cricket closely.

Just these two lead businesses that have more market valuation than Indian GDP and 10x more than Pak GDP. They probably haven’t invested in Indian cricket but the potential demand for IPL is high. What stops Google and Microsoft to buy a team each or build a billion dollar cricket stadium (Google stadium?) for branding.

Opportunities are endless. There’s no competition.

Just Dream11, gaming site that mostly depends on cricket, is worth 5 billion dollar now. Imagine the value of IPL. https://www.business-standard.com/a...ix-airbnb-investor-others-121032401050_1.html

“Sports technology company Dream Sports, with brands such as Dream11, FanCode, DreamX, DreamSetGo, and DreamPay in its portfolio, has raised $400 million in a new funding round led by TCV, D1 Capital Partners, and Falcon Edge Capital. This is TCV’s first investment in India. The latest round takes the company’s valuation close to $5 billion, revealed sources.”

 

[Shazzam]

At some point in time, the ICC will have to intervene.

Most T20 leagues apart from the IPL struggle with garnering immense viewership. For countries like Pakistan, Australia, England, etc., the domestic T20 leagues are quite average, so most fans demand to see high-quality international cricket.

India is a separate case because the IPL is of very high quality, but at the same time, fans also demand international fixtures.

A new international calendar will most likely be created with designated slots for certain leagues.

With the initiatives to bring back the Champions Trophy, along with the WTC, the ICC is for once taking action to bring back the popularity towards these other formats.

I still think that getting rid of the T20I format will mean that T20 leagues have less of an incentive to grow and function apart from gaining revenue. There's a reason T10 and The Hundred won't be that popular, because the format simply doesn't exist to allow people and players to consider it.

Moving to T20 cricket solely is an unhealthy change in my mind. A good variety of formats is needed to meet everyone's interests.

If ICC got rid of the Twenty20 format Cricket would not survive as a sport. Times have changed. People no longer value the longer format of the game. Instead of getting rid of anything we should accept reality. League cricket is the future.

 

[someone21]

I can tell you for a fact that I would rather watch Pakistan or England play against Nepal or Hong Kong in a meaningless game then any domestic match, whether it's a PSL game or The Hundred...

Of course, you are a free man. But lot of people are busy and time is valuable. Matches needs substance, meanings. That's missing from the random ODI matches.

And walk the talk, do you watch the friendly matches of your nations? Do you watch the tour games? Don't talk stupid things...

 

[UzmanBeast]

If ICC got rid of the Twenty20 format Cricket would not survive as a sport. Times have changed. People no longer value the longer format of the game. Instead of getting rid of anything we should accept reality. League cricket is the future.

League cricket has importance now due to the T20 World Cup.

Once the 2023 Cricket World Cup comes around the corner, league cricket will not be prioritized.

It's the timing of events that is working in the favor of all these cricket leagues.

 

[Varun]

I'm totally going to bump this thread when Pakistan inevitably loses 1-4 in this series (is it a 5 T20 series)?

After what happened in England a few short weeks ago, they should walk the talk before talking the walk.

 

[IMMY69]

Of course, you are a free man. But lot of people are busy and time is valuable. Matches needs substance, meanings. That's missing from the random ODI matches.

And walk the talk, do you watch the friendly matches of your nations? Do you watch the tour games? Don't talk stupid things...

Don't talk stupid things?
I just said I would rather watch bi laterals involving Pakistan vs lowly international sides then a T20 league game, be it IPl or PSL and you come out with do you watch Tour games? Who is the one talking stupid things?

For the record, in 1992 myself snd my friends watched Pakistan play against Essex and Middlesex and both games were heavily supported. Then in 2006 we went to see them play at Shenly. But that was a long time ago, a different era.

But this thread should not be about Leagues vs bi laterals.
There should be room for both of them and one format should look to strengthen the other one or else the game will lose meaning and die away.

 

[someone21]

Don't talk stupid things?
I just said I would rather watch bi laterals involving Pakistan vs lowly international sides then a T20 league game, be it IPl or PSL and you come out with do you watch Tour games? Who is the one talking stupid things?

For the record, in 1992 myself snd my friends watched Pakistan play against Essex and Middlesex and both games were heavily supported. Then in 2006 we went to see them play at Shenly. But that was a long time ago, a different era.

But this thread should not be about Leagues vs bi laterals.
There should be room for both of them and one format should look to strengthen the other one or else the game will lose meaning and die away.

Again, thread is not your personal interests. Bilateral cricket in this case Pak vs NZ is losing interest because it's meaningless.

Players choose to play IPL both as it is meaning, and money. If it was meaningful series like Ashes or cup competition, these players wouldn't be playing IPL.

You obvious are the outlier and that says something around your mindset.

 

[Rajdeep]

Financially its a no brainer that a player would choose IPL over bilateral tours.

But I can also understand where Inzy is coming from. Skipping your country matches regularly for league cricket is setting a wrong preceedent.

Just to avoid this clash, ICC has given a seperate window to the IPL. This year the schedule screwed up due to Covid. But from next year, it will be IPL in Apr-May and international cricket for rest 10 months. Think that is how it should remain.

 

[Babbar]

In this IPL is probably an excuse to not come, Kane and most of the top players would not have to Pakistan even otherwise. A look at strength of teams, esp SENA, recently visiting Pak is an indicator.

 

[IMMY69]

Again, thread is not your personal interests. Bilateral cricket in this case Pak vs NZ is losing interest because it's meaningless.

Players choose to play IPL both as it is meaning, and money. If it was meaningful series like Ashes or cup competition, these players wouldn't be playing IPL.

You obvious are the outlier and that says something around your mindset.

I think you need help but it won't be from me.
Good luck in life

 

[IMMY69]

Financially its a no brainer that a player would choose IPL over bilateral tours.

But I can also understand where Inzy is coming from. Skipping your country matches regularly for league cricket is setting a wrong preceedent.

Just to avoid this clash, ICC has given a seperate window to the IPL. This year the schedule screwed up due to Covid. But from next year, it will be IPL in Apr-May and international cricket for rest 10 months. Think that is how it should remain.

Could not agree with you more

 

[U$ofA]

Financially its a no brainer that a player would choose IPL over bilateral tours.

But I can also understand where Inzy is coming from. Skipping your country matches regularly for league cricket is setting a wrong preceedent.

Just to avoid this clash, ICC has given a seperate window to the IPL. This year the schedule screwed up due to Covid. But from next year, it will be IPL in Apr-May and international cricket for rest 10 months. Think that is how it should remain.

Next year it will likely be Apr-June and cricket the rest 9 months of international cricket due to expansion. Looking down the road 5-10 years, there may be another expansion. At that point it will become Apr - Jul/Aug and rest 7-8 months of international cricket.

What do we do in this instance?

 

[Mamoon]

Next year it will likely be Apr-June and cricket the rest 9 months of international cricket due to expansion. Looking down the road 5-10 years, there may be another expansion. At that point it will become Apr - Jul/Aug and rest 7-8 months of international cricket.

What do we do in this instance?

Nothing. Just move on with the times.

Change is the only constant.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

This will happen even more in future.

Sad reality really and not much ICC can do.

It will be interesting to see how Boards manage this.

boards have managed this. To allow players to go for IPL. Gives them 2 benefits, $$ from players salary goes to boards + players are happy.

What this also does is gives a lot of hopefuls chance in international fixtures.

So if you see it's a double edged sword for players as Colin Munro has found out.

 

[Babbar]

I don’t think any other board has issues with IPL, even when it’s expanded to double the current size. It’s win-win for all boards, top players and ICC.

But PCB, Pak players and fans understandably have serious issues with IPL today as not only they are kept away from the IPL moolah and razzmatazz but also are deprived of playing against any other full-strength main team at that time.This is a harsh reality.

One option for Pakistan is to play against Kenya or Zimbabwe who rarely have their players in IPL and meet their ICC obligations during that window.

 

[Local.Dada]

Firstly representing a cricket team is not like representing an army or your government. It is a profession and your employer is Nz cricket board in this case. The employer seems to have no problem with some professionals playing in a different league because not only it enhances the brand values of their players, makes them richer but also they get a cut from it.

On the other hand what exactly is at stake for Nzl with playing Pakistan? Is there money or some kind of a significance for them?

In fact kudos to Nzl board to come up with a team to still honor their commitments.

Not sure what the anguish is about. In fact chance for Pakistan to climb up the rankings, show the world how much better they are than these C teams and command respect.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Firstly representing a cricket team is not like representing an army or your government. It is a profession and your employer is Nz cricket board in this case. The employer seems to have no problem with some professionals playing in a different league because not only it enhances the brand values of their players, makes them richer but also they get a cut from it.

On the other hand what exactly is at stake for Nzl with playing Pakistan? Is there money or some kind of a significance for them?

In fact kudos to Nzl board to come up with a team to still honor their commitments.

Not sure what the anguish is about. In fact chance for Pakistan to climb up the rankings, show the world how much better they are than these C teams and command respect.

I read your post. I read it again but this time I kept BCCI, KPL and Monty Panesar in my mind. Your post didn't made any sense because in the other thread you were telling everybody that KPL has a political agenda. Here you are singing a different tune.

 

[Saj]

The scenario of club v country will become a recurring issue in cricket in future.

Players will go where the money is and if it's in T20 cricket then that will come before playing for your country if the money isn't being handed out by the Boards.

 

[BDfanforever]

I blame the common folks stupidity. There are many in India whom are just getting by yet handful have access to IPL riches. The world is definitely not fair when it comes to economy.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Personally I see no problem.

In all professional leagues worldwide in all sports - it is where the money is made. Playing for ones country is what people do for pride but your family and finances come first.

Countries don’t have that kind of money and we shouldn’t get on players who see the best financial situation for them.

 

[someone21]

IPL is like a sponsor where you have to travel and work for 1-2 months and get big money. Who will deny such sponsor?

Then, people talk about milking it. This includes national teams, whom misused and much greed and selfishness. Random bilateral series with meaningless matches, playing B teams, rotating their teams unnecessarily. Why should loyal fans support such teams when they aren’t even playing to their best and max?

The onus lies on national teams to change it and be better. Fans have been exploited by them...

 

[Babbar]

A lot of soccer bilaterals were played before 1940s. Today outside the world cup or continental cups, hardly any country tours another with full strength Soccer team. It’s considered a waste of time.

Same situation is in most other evolved team sports like Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Water Polo, Handball or Team (5-match) Tennis/TT/Badminton. You rarely see a bilateral being played in these games except on some goodwill mission. People in these sports will laugh at you if you tell them to take their top country team for 4/6/10 weeks trip to another country.


Cricket should have moved to club-culture long back. It’s still in pre-historic mode thanks to the long domination by ECB governed by outdated ancient 90 year olds.

Hopefully BCCI will bring Cricket into 21st century even if kicking and screaming.

 

[someone21]

A lot of soccer bilaterals were played before 1940s. Today outside the world cup or continental cups, hardly any country tours another with full strength Soccer team. It’s considered a waste of time.

Same situation is in most other evolved team sports like Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Water Polo, Handball or Team (5-match) Tennis/TT/Badminton. You rarely see a bilateral being played in these games except on some goodwill mission. People in these sports will laugh at you if you tell them to take their top country team for 4/6/10 weeks trip to another country.


Cricket should have moved to club-culture long back. It’s still in pre-historic mode thanks to the long domination by ECB governed by outdated ancient 90 year olds.

Hopefully BCCI will bring Cricket into 21st century even if kicking and screaming.

Good post.

And today youngsters dream is to play IPL and represent country. That has opened the game worldwide, where talented players from non cricketing nations are recognised, and enhanced. Basically, an ecosystem is created, which wasnt there in the past.

Cricket is no longer the game of rich and elite people, and/or those with questionable fitness or lack of commitment to the sport.

 

[BDfanforever]

A lot of soccer bilaterals were played before 1940s. Today outside the world cup or continental cups, hardly any country tours another with full strength Soccer team. It’s considered a waste of time.

Same situation is in most other evolved team sports like Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Water Polo, Handball or Team (5-match) Tennis/TT/Badminton. You rarely see a bilateral being played in these games except on some goodwill mission. People in these sports will laugh at you if you tell them to take their top country team for 4/6/10 weeks trip to another country.


Cricket should have moved to club-culture long back. It’s still in pre-historic mode thanks to the long domination by ECB governed by outdated ancient 90 year olds.

Hopefully BCCI will bring Cricket into 21st century even if kicking and screaming.

Cricket isn't like Baseball where it is played mostly by one nation. That's why you have a world series even though it's just one state vs another.

I am mostly sure, if international cricket goes away so will these leagues. This is why international cricket still exists, otherwise why bother. Without international cricket, how will someone like Hitmeyer get noticed?

 

[Balthazar]

Cricket isn't like Baseball where it is played mostly by one nation. That's why you have a world series even though it's just one state vs another.

I am mostly sure, if international cricket goes away so will these leagues. This is why international cricket still exists, otherwise why bother. Without international cricket, how will someone like Hitmeyer get noticed?

The reason we have leagues is because of declining popularity and quality of international cricket. It will not go away.

 

[Shazzam]

League cricket has importance now due to the T20 World Cup.

Once the 2023 Cricket World Cup comes around the corner, league cricket will not be prioritized.

It's the timing of events that is working in the favor of all these cricket leagues.

League cricket has nothing to do with the t20 World Cup. Sure some players are selected from it but ultimately it is not there to produce players for you. Its there to entertain the crowds by giving cricket fans mouth watering batting combinations. Its there to sell tickets get butts in seats to entertain multitude of crowds. That too by being a simple domestic League. Twenty20 is in the demand these days why should ICC get rid of a format that gives them the most earnings. If anything Test cricket should be abolished.

 

[Babbar]

Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Ice Hockey have not become less popular because there are no bilateral matches. Even field hockey is moving to clubs in Europe with a lot of Indian players regularly playing there and top world players coming to Indian hockey league before covid.

However hardly anyone sees field hockey in India/Pakistan. If it has to gain popularity, it needs to move totally towards a strong club culture.

Hopefully Indian hockey will leverage its recent strong performance in Olympics and World cup and develop even more vibrant and well marketed multi-tiered hockey league.

International hockey matches can only be during continental/world cups or in a private tournament with big bucks prizes.

Cricket & Hockey have not taken the club culture well and both are losing audiences except in IPL/BBL type club tournaments.

 

[AMSS]

Next year it will likely be Apr-June and cricket the rest 9 months of international cricket due to expansion. Looking down the road 5-10 years, there may be another expansion. At that point it will become Apr - Jul/Aug and rest 7-8 months of international cricket.

What do we do in this instance?

Tangential to the topic but the IPL season is going to be a bit of a headache for organisers even without the grumpy suits at ICC. The 1-2 model works perfectly for weekday-weekend matches but this will be stress tested once IPL expands. The group thing is an absolute no-go as far as I am concerned because it dents the credibility of a league structure.

The IPL cannot expand into the months of late June onward because monsoon is a persistent threat. So it'll have to start as early as February and finish by mid-June. The 1-2 model gives 38-40 matches a month. A 10 team IPL would have 90 odd matches. With 12 teams it expands to ~125 matches.

I don't see IPL expanding beyond 10-12 teams till 2026 so a three month window would work perfectly. But if the next 5 years of IPL builds on its popularity in India and the economy grows as expected, then international cricket's day of reckoning would truly have arrived.

 

[UzmanBeast]

League cricket has nothing to do with the t20 World Cup. Sure some players are selected from it but ultimately it is not there to produce players for you. Its there to entertain the crowds by giving cricket fans mouth watering batting combinations. Its there to sell tickets get butts in seats to entertain multitude of crowds. That too by being a simple domestic League. Twenty20 is in the demand these days why should ICC get rid of a format that gives them the most earnings. If anything Test cricket should be abolished.

Boards will eventually raise their salaries and include clauses where only they can dictate the number of leagues centrally contracted players can participate in.

It's a process most boards will follow to keep international cricket relevant.

Right now, the issue with families being allowed into Australia will be resolved because CA doesn't want to miss out on the viewership of the Ashes.

You can keep hyping up these T20 leagues, but the reality is that cricket boards will start to combat the rise of such leagues.

It's all in the balance of interests: the more you provide, the less inclined someone will be to look elsewhere for work.

 

[Babbar]

Closest to the cricket is baseball, which is also played by a handful of countries and has one big daddy that provides almost the whole of capital, paying audience, glamour, skill pool, salaries, ambience and best opportunity to any wannabe baseball star world over.

Cricket is moving towards that the same model. IPL will expand and will eventually be the only tournament with top stars from all over as the cost of getting top cricketing stars will keep increasing.

All other leagues can only have local national stars, B/C tiered or Retired (Gibbs, Panesar) hands from outside. And even then the US club leagues will provide a better environment to those retired/third tier players.

No board, except 1-2 with ego problems for ideological reasons, will have any problem with a big daddy taking over and even the latter will be eventually subsumed with some bribe and threat.

 

[IMMY69]

Closest to the cricket is baseball, which is also played by a handful of countries and has one big daddy that provides almost the whole of capital, paying audience, glamour, skill pool, salaries, ambience and best opportunity to any wannabe baseball star world over.

Cricket is moving towards that the same model. IPL will expand and will eventually be the only tournament with top stars from all over as the cost of getting top cricketing stars will keep increasing.

All other leagues can only have local national stars, B/C tiered or Retired (Gibbs, Panesar) hands from outside. And even then the US club leagues will provide a better environment to those retired/third tier players.

No board, except 1-2 with ego problems for ideological reasons, will have any problem with a big daddy taking over and even the latter will be eventually subsumed with some bribe and threat.

I don't think the baseball comparison works with Cricket.
For one thing baseball is almost exclusively played by Americans, you don't have an influx of foreign baseball players representing the US teams.

So any cricket league will eventually only have domestic players especially if international cricket slowly dies away. You may get English or Aussie players for some more years as both those boards are strong. But in time that will die away too.

If the IPL or the PSL or which league is happy just to have largely overpaid domestic players and their domestic audience continues to watch it then there is chance cricket can continue to played in leagues but then it will be be mainly one format and international cricket will only be played amongst the top three nations until that dies away too.

 

[Babbar]

Baseball world cup is played by 16 countries and has been won the most by Cuba, not US. It’s also won by South Korea, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, England. Even Japan and Taipei have won medals.

So Baseball popularity and skill
level is more widespread than cricket. Imagine Nepal or Netherlands winning a cricket world cup.

Nearly one-third of the baseball league players in the US are foreign born, only the rest two-third are Americans.

Similarly nearly two third of the total fan base, total funds collected and even total professional (club level or more) players in Cricket are also from a single country. About one-third of IPL players, coaches are non-Indians.

This transformation of cricket having one super daddy will take time- probably two decades. But this is inevitable if cricket has to survive.

 

[IMMY69]

Baseball world cup is played by 16 countries and has been won the most by Cuba, not US. It’s also won by South Korea, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, England. Even Japan and Taipei have won medals.

So Baseball popularity and skill
level is more widespread than cricket. Imagine Nepal or Netherlands winning a cricket world cup.

Nearly one-third of the baseball league players in the US are foreign born, only the rest two-third are Americans.

Similarly nearly two third of the total fan base, total funds collected and even total professional (club level or more) players in Cricket are also from a single country. About one-third of IPL players, coaches are non-Indians.

This transformation of cricket having one super daddy will take time- probably two decades. But this is inevitable if cricket has to survive.

I stand corrected

 

[MesonK]

Can Pakistan win the series against NZ B before talking about this please?

We massacred full strength SA just recently. Full strength NZ will meet the same fate. If Kane wants to leave he should. His team will suffer from bad away record and threat in ratings tables.

 

[OMB]

Inzy bhai frustration is understandable. IPL is interfering with International calendar. True that it may be due to covid but the truth is that the bilaterals are more affected than IPL due to clash. it is unavoidable and will be unrealistic to tell players to abandon earning money.

 

[Abu_Hamza]

We massacred full strength SA just recently. Full strength NZ will meet the same fate. If Kane wants to leave he should. His team will suffer from bad away record and threat in ratings tables.

Full strength ??? Most of their players went to IPL and Pak faced a depleted side and still couldnt whitewash them but got whitewashed in ODIS by England D side.

 

[MesonK]

Full strength ??? Most of their players went to IPL and Pak faced a depleted side and still couldnt whitewash them but got whitewashed in ODIS by England D side.

Common sense would have helped you understand that I was talking about SA that toured Pakistan. If SA of Elgar, Markram, maharaj, Faf, Ngidi, Rabada, QDK is not full strength than please explain to me what is ?

 

[Abu_Hamza]

Common sense would have helped you understand that I was talking about SA that toured Pakistan. If SA of Elgar, Markram, maharaj, Faf, Ngidi, Rabada, QDK is not full strength than please explain to me what is ?

Perhaps u forgot that even Sir [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] mentioned that it was the worst South African team that vistited Pak. SA are no more the team which they were known for. Their performance outside SA has been miserable after the retirement of Dale Steyen, AbD, Morne Morkel, Philander etc.

 

[Mamoon]

Why are cricket fans so obsessed with globalizing the game? Why does it have to be played by additional countries?