Y
ou are talking as if players weren't earning any money before these leagues came. Sachin and Afridi didn't need IPL to become the richest cricketers in their own respective countries. IPL is like a lottery where an average cricketer like Unadkat can earn around 10 crores.
What do you propose will happen once the international cricket is dead? How are you going to create these superstars? Haven't you got enough example of that this year already? India forfeiting 5th test against England, some SA african players choosing IPL over Pak tour, NZ players choosing IPL over Pak tour etc. BCCI organising IPL twice in an year thereby hijacking the international calendar and putting top players in a pick and choose situation should be criticised by every cricket fan because they are trying to kill the game.
You can never have enough money.
I think you answered it yourself. Sachin and Afridi were earning enough without needing IPL. Now new cricketers can earn and dream about playing league cricket and be safe with their earnings. Whether its Unadkat or Dale Steyn everyone can have a good future.
International cricket is dead? Did NBA make basketball dead? Did MLB make baseball dead?
By the way, I am a fan of test cricket. But I just don't have the time or energy to sit for 7 hours a day for five days of a test and finally it peters out into a draw or rain plays spoilsport.
T20 is the ONLY format that can introduce the same brand of cricket in Europe and North America. They already play baseball.
Imagine an MLB player interested in cricket and making it big in the league cricket.
That's how funds will come.
Now I agree, the boundary sizes can be made bigger and wickets can be made bowler friendly for T20 but they are merely semantics.
The ONLY WAY you will attract many countries into cricket is by playing as many T20 matches as possible, be it IPL, World T20 or PSL.
If you advocate tests to the Western nations, they won't stand 5 days of nonsense for a draw.
Sad as it may be, tests are only for niche nations like Ashes etc.
Rest of the world will and should survive on T20's alone.