Not playing IPL a ‘Blessing in Disguise’ for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 - Opinion
Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed the face of cricket all over the world. Many other countries have also started franchise cricket and as a result, the players are becoming millionaires within a short span of time.
The schedule of international cricket is getting tighter with the passage of time and many players have been complaining about the tiring routine. However, no one wants to miss out on IPL because of all the money involved in it.
Pakistani players have not been playing the cash-rich league after its first edition because of political reasons. The newly appointed T20 skipper of Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 gave a statement earlier this month that not playing IPL is a massive disadvantage for the Green Shirts as they have been deprived of some quality match-practice.
"For about two months we have not been playing international matches, not even Twenty20. If you compare the whole world with us, everyone is there [at the IPL] getting practice in intense scenarios and enhancing their skills, but our players are missing out on that opportunity,” said Hafeez.
However, Hafeez’s opinion does not make a lot of sense because Pakistani players did not take part in the second edition of the league as well, which was played in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325.
History proves that not playing IPL does not make a difference to the players of the highest ability.
A more seasoned campaigner and Pakistan’s Test and One Day International skipper, Misbah ul Haq contrasted with the opinion of his vice-captain and believes that the on-going conditioning camp and practice matches are enough for the players to get ready for international cricket.
Misbah expressed, “The 4 matches that have been planned will be very helpful for us. Each player should utilize these opportunities as this is very good quality practice for playing International cricket with similar scenarios and competitive teams involved.”
It is a proven fact that rest is absolutely crucial for players at the highest stage of the game in order to rejuvenate them. With a hectic international season in front of them, not playing IPL is definitely a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the Pakistani players.
IPL is a great platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent and to enhance their skills but the same cannot be said about the well-established players.
Most of the former cricketers outside India have a consensus that IPL has not done any good to international cricket; in fact, it is diverting the attention of the players as many star-cricketers have started to prefer their franchises over their countries. It is a shame because international cricket should always remain the pinnacle for every budding cricketer.
If IPL was a tool of improving the game then http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 last year.
Hence, one can easily figure out that ICC must intervene if it wants to save the ‘gentlemen’s game’, otherwise many question marks will be raised about its authority as a governing body of the sport. It must not allow the game to be driven merely by money and the influence of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must be restricted, otherwise, get prepared for an unbearable loss to the game.
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