Striking the right balance between International and Franchise cricket.
The landscape of cricket is changing quicker than one might realize. The game is no longer restricted to its traditions of the past, with the sport only getting quicker and more entertaining. The emergence of franchise leagues around the globe now means that fans don’t have to wait long periods to see their favourite players take center stage either. The players, of course, oblige as much as possible. However, the number of games played throughout the year and the demands of the three formats is challenging. A few significant events in recent times are showing the road ahead for the sport.
The first sign of the seismic shift came from the players, with Quinton de Kock retiring from Test cricket at the age of 29 to focus on the white-ball formats. The likes of Trent Boult and Martin Guptill recently made significant decisions on their future too, opting out of their New Zealand contracts to play in franchise leagues around the world. However, the two will still be available for selection during major events.
For England, Ben Stokes announced his retirement from the One Day Internationals with the World Cup-winning all-rounder citing workload management as the reason for his retirement. There have been a few rumours about a potential u-turn on his decision, with England having a chance to defend their crown in India next year, and the Test captain won’t want to let that opportunity slip. The above examples signify that representing their nation on the biggest stage still ranks as the highest honour for the players. In fact, a recent report by the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) suggests the same.
In a survey from 400 men’s players across 11 countries (excluding Indians), the report stated that 54 per cent feel players feel that the 50-over World Cup is still the apex ICC event, despite the increase in T20 cricket. The report also stated that 49 per cent of players would consider rejecting a national contract in favour of a bigger domestic T20 contract. To add more context to it though, 69 per cent of these players have just one year left in their national contract. Hence, short-term contracts in franchise leagues are understandably lucrative for the players in helping them secure their future.
This has resulted in redefining the future of the sport and suggestions around it going down the Football road with franchises taking over. However, there is a balance that needs to be found. It doesn’t have to be as perfectly balanced as Thanos needed it to be in the Avengers movies either. It only has to be enough for the franchise and international cricket to coexist.
The two surely have their pros and cons. It depends on which side one believes they stand with. The franchise cricket frenzy started with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 and has only grown bigger and better since. It is the grandest festival of cricket & has lived up to its billing. It has also grown to be one of the largest sporting entities, now only behind the NBA in terms of being one of the most profitable leagues in the world.
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The FICA report suggests that it’s essential for franchise and international cricket to coexist Whilst FICA does not have all the answers, and acknowledges the challenges associated with scheduling, it advocates for: a balanced global structure for the game that enables the international cricket and leagues landscapes to co-exist; recognition of domestic leagues in the game’s global structure; and a clear framework around bilateral international cricket scheduling.
Franchise cricket and international cricket operate differently in terms of fan engagement as well. In international cricket, it has never been an issue, especially for India. No matter where the team plays, the cricket frenzied fans usually turn up in good numbers to witness their national side, regardless of the occasion. However, in franchise leagues, there is more focus on fan engagement to try and create a bond between the team and the fan. The new tournament in the UAE – ILT20 , has taken a significant step in this regard. With teams taking part in the tournament owned by the IPL franchise, the tournament is expected to draw in fans from the already existing fans of the franchise.
Fans at the Wankhede Stadium have celebrated some iconic moments in the history of cricket, be it franchise or international. The Mumbai Indians are five-time champions of the cash-rich league and usually put on a show for their crowd. Those nights live long in the memory of the fans, as does the night of April 2nd when India won the World Cup in 2011. Or even the day when Mumbai-born Ajaz Patel etched his name in the history books with a 10-wicket haul in an innings of a Test match in his birth town. The game is played for moments like these. It doesn’t matter if it is international cricket or franchise cricket, it is what the players and fans live for, and that is what the game is all about. Having to go down one road or the other might be unfair, not only to the players as well as the fans. Therefore, striking the right balance between the two is the key towards the growth & popularity of the sport.
Sr. Sports Management Professional | Budding Entrepreneur | Sports Business | Motorcyclist & Masters Badminton Player
1 年A right balance is a must for the sport. Its the Test and ODIs for hardcore sport lovers and for the fans who love entertainment, its the shorter formats. I think each has its own TG and fanbase. I still feel too many formats for a sport is not good. You can simply splitting the fanbase and obviously people are gonna choose the easier and convenient option. Why will I watch a 5 day test when I am working Monday thru Friday so there goes the working class. ODIs are good during weekends and not weekdays coz many more can attend the game. Ok since its national team playing some might even take an off and watch the game. A right balance b/w domestic, international and T20 formats is a must for the sport and players. From players perspective, they need to constantly adapt to the conditions of the game. If its an ODI I need to start slow and stay for a longer time, where as a T20 match I need to be agile and quickly score. I feel its a personal decision of players which way they want to go depending on what kinda personality he/she is. I feel there has to be a different set of players for T20 and longer formats. You will have more players representing the country and not just a handful. Its a completely different ballgame.
Legal Counsel
1 年The only way to do this is when the boards and players come to an understanding of sorts. The players need to be clear about their priorities. Latest example is someone like Trent Boult and Martin Guptill. Taking hardline stances like the BCCI (Indian players not permitted to play other T20 leagues) is not a solution.