T20 Cricket is threating national teams globally as players seem to prefer playing T20 cricket over domestic games. Ina global employment report released on Tuesday by the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) made this revelation.
FICA examined 400 male players from 11 nations (excluding India) and found that 49% of them would contemplate turning down a national deal in favour of a larger domestic T20 contract. This is because the franchise system is causing international cricket to worry that it will lose its best players.
While T20 franchise cricket, specially ICC Men’s t20 world cup is becoming more and more popular, 74% of players still consider Test cricket to be the most significant format to play in. However, it is down from 82% in the last study. The day-night Tests also appear to be quite well-liked among cricket players, with 79% of them supporting them.
T20 threatens Domestic Cricket Worldwide
Although there have been many calls to change Test cricket to a four-day format in order to free up the international schedule, 56% of players are opposed to this idea because they want to keep the lengthy format. The International Cricket Council and the member boards, however, want to have a separate window for international cricket and T20 leagues, according to 63% of the players.
At Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, on the third day of the test match between England and South Africa, South Africa’s captain Dean Elgar, pictured in the centre, celebrates with his team after their victory by an innings and 12 runs. (AP)
Moreover, 54% of respondents believe the 50-over World Cup to be the ultimate ICC event, despite the fact that the number of T20Is is rising every year. The percentage has decreased from 86% in the prior study, which was done in 2019–20, nevertheless.
T20 becomes the most favored sports for cricketers
These numbers are not surprising. In the cover page of the report, there is Ben Stokes making a substantial point about the current cricketing landscape which is crowded with international and T20 cricket.
“Three formats are unsustainable for my body right now. I feel my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us,” says Stokes, who has already retired from 50-over cricket.
Then there is Trent Boult, the New Zealand seamer, who has declined the central contract offered by New Zealand Cricket in favour of T20 leagues, saying, “If I don’t play international cricket, then that might be a couple of T20 leagues a year and 10 months at home rather than the other way around.”
