IPL making players greater than the game – Opinion
Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed the face of the game and also the priorities of players. World-class players, who used to have careers stretched up to almost two decades on average, now think about calling it a day
from the international sport after eight to ten years, having found a great alternate of earning money, in shape of the cash-rich league.
There is a strong school of thought which believes that the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Muralitharan-c1864 and many more legends of the game would not have retired earlier, had there been no franchise
cricket.
On top of that, high profile domestic T20 tournaments all around the world are having an extremely negative impact on the players’ attitudes and disciplines, with a number of star players having disputes with their respective cricket boards these days, which
was something very uncommon before the T20 format arrived at the global arena.
Representing their country at the ultimate level of the game and earning a Test cap used to be the dream of every young cricketer, but not anymore, with the players preferring money over playing international cricket now.
The fourth and the fifth season made things worse for the global sport, with some extra-ordinary players like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Bravo-c1379 and some more refusing to play for their respective national teams during the glamorous
tournament.
Gayle remained out of international cricket for almost 14 months, because of his differences with the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 Cricket Board (WICB) over taking part in the IPL.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 born English cricketer however, refused
to stop playing IPL, in fact, now he wants the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to release him from the Test team as well, if the schedule collides with the attractive tournament in India.
Many former cricketers outside http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 are of the view that IPL is turning out to be a cancer for the sport and the International Cricket Council (ICC) must intervene and save the game.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 captain, expressed last year that the cash-rich league is damaging Indian cricket itself, leave aside some of the other teams. He feels that IPL was a major reason why the Men in Blue failed to compete against England
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 last year.
"I also blame the players for running after the money in the IPL. They had put their body through all kind of strain and pain and didn't think about the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, which was a very important tour," Mushtaq expressed. "I hope they learn their lesson
that too much IPL and unnecessary cricket spoils the ranking of the team."
Sri Lanka’s former world cup winning captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 to stamp its authority as the game’s true governing body.
Ranatunga said, "The ICC is becoming a toothless http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Timothy-Michael-Lamb-c94061. I have seen this IPL and I must say from the first day I didn't like it. We have created a monster that will go on to destroy international cricket. The ICC's job is to protect the game."
The ICC must ensure that international cricket remains the priority of each and every player and India or any other country for that matter should not be allowed to dictate terms to the ‘gentlemen’s game’.
Over the last five years, IPL has made the players think that they are greater than the game but the mess must stop now.
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