Pat Cummins, Travis Head rejected offer of $10 million each to quit Australian cricket for T20

[Hitman]

Calls for the BBL to be privatised have intensified after it was revealed Australia's captain Pat Cummins and deputy Travis Head were offered nearly $10 million a year to play T20 cricket overseas fulltime.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports an IPL team made the offers this year, which were rejected by the players, who cited their commitment to the Australian cricket team.

But news of the offers were discussed between Cricket Australia, the state associations and the players' union as they consider privatising the Big Bash League.

Cummins' international cricket salary is around $3 million, taking into account his captaincy duties.

Money generated from selling off Big Bash franchises would raise player salaries, and also link the T20 league into a growing global network of franchise owners.

Cummins' IPL auction value with Sunrisers Hyderabad last year was worth almost $3.7 million, while Head went for about $1.2 million at the same team.

While cricket players are the top earners in the domestic sport market, they fall behind top earner Oscar Piastri and Australians competing in NBA and NFL. All the top earning athletes compete in sports with private ownership.

South African Heinrich Klaasen, a teammate of Head and Cummins at Mumbai, retired from all forms of international cricket in June to play franchise cricket only.

"I spent a lot of time with Klaasen over a period of time while he was making decisions," Head said. "I don't think there's any written rule on what you should or shouldn't play or what you should or shouldn't give up. There's an idea on what people should think, and what they should do.

"Playing international cricket is the pinnacle. A lot of people hold it so high in regard, but some people don't. People have got to respect that there's no one way to go about it.

"A lot of people would give their left nut to play international cricket, and that comes from someone who's played a lot of cricket or someone who's played none, who wants to do it. So when someone gives up that opportunity it's 'why are you doing it?' But there's a reason, and you've got to respect that.

"What's happening in the world at the moment is people have opportunities to make those decisions, which we've never had [before]. So it's hard to knock someone who is making a decision in their own personal state and trying to get job satisfaction. Fair play."

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Link: https://www.nine.com.au/sport/crick...leave-australian-cricket-20251008-p5n0up.html​

 

[Hitman]

$10 million a year is an astonishing amount. But I agree with both of them, no league cricket can match international cricket.

 

[Sachin fan]

$10 million a year is an astonishing amount. But I agree with both of them, no league cricket can match international cricket.

At one point the money will start becoming big enough for players to be unable to refuse. Particularly those near retirement.

This is what's happening in football with Saudis throwing billions.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Indians trying to get rid of their arch nemesis by paying them to stop playing international cricket @mominsaigol

 

[mominsaigol]

Indians trying to get rid of their arch nemesis by paying them to stop playing international cricket @mominsaigol

It's less about the money and more about the contract and commitment.

IPL can renounce their standing at any time. Their is no guarantee of 10M per year contracts lasting which would lead to Cummins and Head retired for good in international.

With international cricket their position is safe and secure.

Even if a contract is offered, IPL can afford to cancel it and take a lawsuit with them paying 10-50M to end the courtroom drama which is honestly chump change for them.

 

[Hitman]

At one point the money will start becoming big enough for players to be unable to refuse. Particularly those near retirement.

This is what's happening in football with Saudis throwing billions.

It's reason like these why I believe the T20 format is overall a curse to the game.

 

[Hitman]

At one point the money will start becoming big enough for players to be unable to refuse. Particularly those near retirement.

This is what's happening in football with Saudis throwing billions.

I agree. What if the $10 million turned to $30 million per year? I don't know what they would have decided, but wouldn't they have been tempted at least?​

 

[Sachin fan]

It's less about the money and more about the contract and commitment.

IPL can renounce their standing at any time. Their is no guarantee of 10M per year contracts lasting which would lead to Cummins and Head retired for good in international.

With international cricket their position is safe and secure.

Even if a contract is offered, IPL can afford to cancel it and take a lawsuit with them paying 10-50M to end the courtroom drama which is honestly chump change for them.

It would be the stupidest decision to cancel it because then no future players will ever trust the leagues and will never sign up.

Why would IPl or any other league cancel it or not honor their promise? As you said, it's chump change for them. Why would they destroy other cricketers trust in them by going back on a promised?

The Saudis haven't gone back in any of their promises despite paying literal billions to some footballers.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It would be the stupidest decision to cancel it because then no future players will ever trust the leagues and will never sign up.

Why would IPl or any other league cancel it or not honor their promise? As you said, it's chump change for them. Why would they destroy other cricketers trust in them by going back on a promised?

The Saudis haven't gone back in any of their promises despite paying literal billions to some footballers.

I don't think the IPL will go back on promises but It is a different situation in club football than cricket as they can continue to play international cricket. The players aren't really sacrificing anything. Ronaldo for example is still playing for Portugal.

Some European nations will maybe not pick players as they believe Saudi league is a lower standard.

 

[Red-Indian]

I agree. What if the $10 million turned to $30 million per year? I don't know what they would have decided, but wouldn't they have been tempted at least?​

Right now, the money generated by the IPL - perhaps $1.5Bn annually is very unfairly distributed between the BCCI, Teams and Players.

The players take home barely 10% of the money earned by the IPL...$15m per team is the salary budget. There's not too noise because the BCCI is so powerful and the money already seems so high but it won't be too long before the players wake up to how much they're leaving on the table and start negotiating as a group. In American sports, players have gone on strike several times for a fairer share of the pot...usually around 30%ish.

If salaries rise to their fair level in the IPL, money earned in international cricket will start seeming ridiculous in comparison. How regulators deal with it is going to be their biggest challenge.

 

[RidiculousMan]

A true aspiring Cricketer would never leave international Cricket and Test Cricket and World Cup events in particular even for a Billion Dollars.

 

[Ball Blazer]

ipl teams made an offer, the op says

Indians are scared of another "silence the crowd"

 

[Red-Indian]

A true aspiring Cricketer would never leave international Cricket and Test Cricket and World Cup events in particular even for a Billion Dollars.

It's easy to judge but a cricketer only has a limited tenure to make their money.

Yes the Australian and English players are relatively safe (at least until the money in the IPL goes crazy) since they have reasonably competent Boards who're trying their best to pay them decent money... So are the Pakistanis for different reasons.

How do you deny the New Zealanders, West Indian players, South Africans, Afghanistanis etc.? It's not like their boards are capable of making up even a part of the money they'd be sacrificing. Already the English county system has sucked up a huge amount of South African talent on Kolpak deals.

I think we have to figure out a lighter international calendar for these teams like Football, Basketball have done. Don't make the choice too difficult for the players in the years to come as the IPL expands and demands more time from them.

 

[Mas-LFC]

Good. Country should always come before them tamasha leagues. Money isn’t everything. History will remember what you did you for your country during your playing years. No one remembers these t20 leagues seasons and whatever happened.

 

[U$ofA]

Good. Country should always come before them tamasha leagues. Money isn’t everything. History will remember what you did you for your country during your playing years. No one remembers these t20 leagues seasons and whatever happened.

The choice should be with the players. They should decide what is best for them.

I do appreciate Cummings and Head for their choice. But so do I Klassen for his choice.

Let the free market decide things. Nothing should be forced.

 

[U$ofA]

I agree. What if the $10 million turned to $30 million per year? I don't know what they would have decided, but wouldn't they have been tempted at least?​

Players are getting tempted for much less. Case in point, SA and WI players. Only a matter of time.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

We will start seeing alot more of this in the future. Jofra Archer was offered a similar big money deal sometime ago by MI.

 

[harshjoshi87]

These Aussies will quit international cricket after 2027 World Cup, most will take up this offers from IPL franchises.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Cummins and Head are the wrong audience for this. Top Australian cricketers already make alot of money through IPL and central contracts. For them, playing the IPL allows them to make a ton of money on the side while staying focused on the main goal of winning matches and trophies for Australia.

 

[Vikram1989]

Cummins and Head are the wrong audience for this. Top Australian cricketers already make alot of money through IPL and central contracts. For them, playing the IPL allows them to make a ton of money on the side while staying focused on the main goal of winning matches and trophies for Australia.

I think this is for publicity stunt. Everyone knows aus captain like cummins cant quit leaving ashes, bgt, Wcs.message may have gone to other interested parties that they can be snapped up at 7 or 8 mn usd , if they are good enough. Once ipl franchises get hold of bbl, there may be a full fledged hunt.

 

[Prince of Dorne]

I agree. What if the $10 million turned to $30 million per year? I don't know what they would have decided, but wouldn't they have been tempted at least?​

For that kind of cash, they’d pack up and move to India in a heartbeat. Toss in ten more million and they’d happily become ‘Tarun’ or ‘Pratik.’ Everyone has a price if you pay enough.

 

[tiger_khan]

$10 million a year is an astonishing amount. But I agree with both of them, no league cricket can match international cricket.

N it's not for a person who is already making $3M from Cricket Australia alone, not including Private Franchise and endorsements incomes.

These two got at least 3 to 5 years of international cricket left in them.

Had they been offered $30M (which is unlikely) they wouldn't have given the explanation of international cricket being the gold standard.

They would have accepted $10M today if they were 5 to 6 years older.

 

[Sachin fan]

ipl teams made an offer, the op says

Indians are scared of another "silence the crowd"

Are Saudis scared when they spend billions to attract football talent?

Poor argument, this is just about growing the brand value and making leagues more attractive.

Let's leave these childish arguments out and discuss like adults.

 

[SportsWarrior]

$10 million a year is an astonishing amount. But I agree with both of them, no league cricket can match international cricket.

It also is a poor offer. Just playing for Aus and IPL will net them that much in three years. Why will they want to leave that? They are getting the same or more money and getting a chance to represent their country and lead them. I don’t know anyone who will take such a poor offer

 

[saimayubera]

I agree. What if the $10 million turned to $30 million per year? I don't know what they would have decided, but wouldn't they have been tempted at least?​

The salaries will grow as the Indian economy grows.

There will be a 20 team 4 month IPL with the best players getting $50-60 million (in 2025 dollars) eventually. Maybe in the 2050s.

Ultimately cricket's growth is tied to the Indian economy.

 

[Red-Indian]

The salaries will grow as the Indian economy grows.

There will be a 20 team 4 month IPL with the best players getting $50-60 million (in 2025 dollars) eventually. Maybe in the 2050s.

Ultimately cricket's growth is tied to the Indian economy.

Who can think that far ahead? I think International Cricket in general and Test Cricket is safe for the remainder of this decade. Unless Netflix or Amazon Prime step up out of the blue, we're not going to see a similar kind of jump in TV rights the upcoming cycle.

Jio has more or less monopolised cricket telecast and streaming in the country and nobody else (Sony?) has the financial might and viewership base to take on the size of deal we're talking about for the IPL. That means there's no real incentive to raise player salaries and add new teams.

Whether cricket in general and the ICC in particular can use this window to diversify revenue earning streams is the question. I'm not holding my breath given their record.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

We will start seeing alot more of this in the future. Jofra Archer was offered a similar big money deal sometime ago by MI.

Future players won't have allegiance to their domestic setups.

Currently, these Aussie players came through the grade system, then FC, and then International. So they are aligned with Australia throughout their careers.

In the not-so-distant future, these players will be scouted and found at talent ID camps for their franchises. An Aussie might come through the system for MI Sydney and an Englishman for MI London. So they won't have the same bond.

As a fan, it just seems so soulless. I'd much prefer year-round IPL than this circus where corporations buy teams in a country, slap their names on them, and players rotate around a circuit.

I mean, who gets up in the morning, wondering what the Mumbai Indians of Sharjah's score is? It all just seems so soulless.

 

[kron]

Are Saudis scared when they spend billions to attract football talent?

Poor argument, this is just about growing the brand value and making leagues more attractive.

Let's leave these childish arguments out and discuss like adults.

And who said we are scared lmao

We just smashed them in t20 and champions trophy

And won 4 bgt series back to back

They only beat under strength India in the final of 2023 and wtc final where we missed 2 to 3 key players

 

[RexRex]

I'm still amazed that franchise crickets gets a bigger indian audience than international cricket. I would have never predicted that trend 10-15 years ago.

As DV has mentioned above, it is a soulless spectacle.

 

[kron]

Future players won't have allegiance to their domestic setups.

Currently, these Aussie players came through the grade system, then FC, and then International. So they are aligned with Australia throughout their careers.

In the not-so-distant future, these players will be scouted and found at talent ID camps for their franchises. An Aussie might come through the system for MI Sydney and an Englishman for MI London. So they won't have the same bond.

As a fan, it just seems so soulless. I'd much prefer year-round IPL than this circus where corporations buy teams in a country, slap their names on them, and players rotate around a circuit.

I mean, who gets up in the morning, wondering what the Mumbai Indians of Sharjah's score is? It all just seems so soulless.

I hate odi cause it’s crap now.
No one cares

Tests is what matters as always

I do prefer t20 over odi

But not at the cost of compromising on tests.

I would be livid if players choose t20 money over playing form their country.

Each to their own I guess. Hopefully not.

 

[kron]

I'm still amazed that franchise crickets gets a bigger indian audience than international cricket. I would have never predicted that trend 10-15 years ago.

I hardly watch ipl. I hate tamasha leagues

Most where I live hardly watch

Not sure how it is in India. I still feel it isn’t as popular as projected but for some reason bcci is able to make a ton of money through the short formats.

 

[Red-Indian]

Future players won't have allegiance to their domestic setups.

Currently, these Aussie players came through the grade system, then FC, and then International. So they are aligned with Australia throughout their careers.

In the not-so-distant future, these players will be scouted and found at talent ID camps for their franchises. An Aussie might come through the system for MI Sydney and an Englishman for MI London. So they won't have the same bond.

As a fan, it just seems so soulless. I'd much prefer year-round IPL than this circus where corporations buy teams in a country, slap their names on them, and players rotate around a circuit.

I mean, who gets up in the morning, wondering what the Mumbai Indians of Sharjah's score is? It all just seems so soulless.

Never seen a model like that work. Even in far more powerful centralised leagues like the MLB and NBA which suck in international talent, they're dependent on the domestic talent system and the local leagues to find their international talent.

Players like Luka Doncic who moved at 19 to the NBA are still fiercely loyal to their countries and are proud to represent them.

I think there's plenty of room for International cricket and a lucrative IPL and other leagues to co-exist. We just have to be realistic in our expectations.

 

[Champ_Pal]

At one point the money will start becoming big enough for players to be unable to refuse. Particularly those near retirement.

This is what's happening in football with Saudis throwing billions.

They will seriously think about the offer once their abilities start waning. But then again the offer might not be available then.

Make it rain while the clouds are still on.

 

[RexRex]

Not sure how it is in India. I still feel it isn’t as popular as projected but for some reason bcci is able to make a ton of money through the short formats.

Money laundering..

 

[saimayubera]

Never seen a model like that work. Even in far more powerful centralised leagues like the MLB and NBA which suck in international talent, they're dependent on the domestic talent system and the local leagues to find their international talent.

Players like Luka Doncic who moved at 19 to the NBA are still fiercely loyal to their countries and are proud to represent them.

I think there's plenty of room for International cricket and a lucrative IPL and other leagues to co-exist. We just have to be realistic in our expectations.

Bilateral will pay the price. WCs and leagues like other sports.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

They will seriously think about the offer once their abilities start waning. But then again the offer might not be available then.

Make it rain while the clouds are still on.

So you want to eliminate two biggest threat to indians...lol if you can't defeat them buy them

 

[The Bald Eagle]

They will seriously think about the offer once their abilities start waning. But then again the offer might not be available then.

Make it rain while the clouds are still on.

So you want to eliminate two biggest threat to indians...lol if you can't defeat them buy them

 

[Champ_Pal]

So you want to eliminate two biggest threat to indians...lol if you can't defeat them buy them

No.
I want them to play for Australia first as long as they can.

My post was only from Dollar point of view. Aus players do not get the same God like treatment that Indian players receive in India. So their endorsements will also be less. It’s a very tough decision. I am sure both Head and Cummins thought about it before they rejected the offer. Good on them.

 

[mominsaigol]

It would be the stupidest decision to cancel it because then no future players will ever trust the leagues and will never sign up.

Why would IPl or any other league cancel it or not honor their promise? As you said, it's chump change for them. Why would they destroy other cricketers trust in them by going back on a promised?

The Saudis haven't gone back in any of their promises despite paying literal billions to some footballers.

We are talking about a what if scenario. Secondly the Saudi's have gone back on their promises a dime a dozen times.

I do not know much about football but the Saudis literally ruined WWE superstars due to Saudi hush money.

Heck they are literally ruining wrestlemania by dragging it out of USA, and many stars who had signed on to air at wrestlemania are now having their contracts revoked because the Arabs want the absolute top stars.

Many female wrestlers including top stars have suffered as a result