Franchise T20 cricket has developed over time to become a significant source of income for cricket players all around the world, if not the largest. In terms of money spent on franchise T20 cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been in the lead. In the meantime, nations like Bangladesh and South Africa have their own professional cricket competitions, and Australia has the BBL and Pakistan the PSL.
While the IPL has increased cricket's entertainment value and found some undiscovered talents for India and other countries, it has also come under fire for drawing players away from their national obligations with rich contracts. Some players in nations like the West Indies have even put franchise cricket over of country, drawing more ire.
Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar Hails Kapil Dev as the Original 'Captain Cool
But legendary West Indies captain Clive Lloyd feels that modern-day cricketers deserve such money. "I think we went to Kerry Packer because we did not know our worth. These guys now know what they are worth. But I think that if IPL is such an important part of their lives, just give them a window so that they can play IPL" he said.
"Yes, a window would be excellent, I think, because they are earning a good living. And do not forget, you are giving your best part, the best days of your life to this sport. So why not be paid for it?"
Using the example of NBA stars and footballers, he stated, "When Michael Jordan and all these footballers were earning millions per month, nobody said anything about it. Why cricket should be different?"
But the two-time ODI World Cup -winning captain also feels that players should also put their country ahead of franchise cricket and money shouldn't prevent them from doing so. "You cannot stop them from doing that. It gives them a good future. But the point is that they should not do this to the detriment of playing for their country or their nation. And we suffer because we are only five and a half million people. So if we groom twenty players and lose ten, it is like digging a hole to fill a hole. And I do not want that", he said.
Also Read: Selection Puzzle: Aakash Chopra Questions Suryakumar Yadav's Exclusion from Test Team
"I want our best players to play and I want them to play to their optimum. So, we must have a situation where players must want to play for their country," he further added.
In the past, franchise leagues have cost the West Indies players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. These days, the couple hardly ever represents their nation because of their busy schedules in franchise leagues all over the world.
Also Read: From Lahore to Harare: Sanjay Dutt's Cricket Franchise Journey Continues
