Chris Gayle has proposed a solution to the growing conflict between franchise tournaments like the IPL and international cricket commitments. He suggests creating a designated “IPL window” where the tournament would be played without any interruption from international matches.
This proposal stems from situations like the recent IPL 2024 season, where several England players were forced to pull out midway through the playoffs due to a bilateral T20I series against Pakistan scheduled by the England Cricket Board (ECB).
Chris Gayle views this as unfair to the players and the IPL itself. “You see players who have to leave the tournament to go play for their countries,” he said in an interview with DafaNews. “If you have an IPL window, then it should just be the IPL in that window. There shouldn’t be international cricket during that time frame.”
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He argues that the current system disproportionately benefits India, which has significant influence over the global cricketing calendar. “There’s only one team that’s going to benefit, and it’s India. That’s unfair,” Chris Gayle stated.
‘No International Cricket During IPL Window’: Chris Gayle Wants ‘No Interference’ During Biggest Franchise Tournamenthttps://t.co/2fZXszlEMk
— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 25, 2024
He emphasizes the need for exclusivity: “If it’s a World Cup window, then it’s just that, nothing else. Same for the IPL.” He believes that attracting the best players requires a dedicated window free from international obligations. “You cannot pull players out of such a big franchise tournament,” he said.
Chris Gayle acknowledges the complexities involved, particularly the dominance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
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“Who is going to talk to India? Who is going to challenge India? No one. They control cricket,” he concedes. He warns that forcing players to choose between national duty and lucrative franchise contracts could ultimately harm international cricket. “We’ve seen cricketers retire from international cricket to play franchise cricket and you’re going to get more and more such cases,” he said.
Chris Gayle’s proposal has sparked debate within the cricketing world. While some see merit in creating a designated IPL window, others express concerns about the potential disruption to the international calendar and the dominance it might give to the IPL.
