Legendary Australia cricketer Adam Gilchrist has expressed his concerns over the IPL’s monopolisation of global T20 competitions.
Gilchrist’s warning came after three IPL franchises — Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals — made huge investments in the UAE T20 league, and it is now being reported that veteran Australia opener David Warner will take part in the more lucrative tournament by ditching the domestic Big Bash League (BBL) this season.
Amid the reports, Gilchrist has asked Cricket Australia (CA) to take cognizance of it before more players decide to follow suit.
“I think it would almost be commercial suicide for them (Cricket Australia) to allow a player like him (Warner) to go head-to-head up against their own competition," Gilchrist told SEN’s Whateley on Wednesday (July 27).
“They can’t force David Warner to play in the BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off — or another player, let’s not single out Warner because there will be other players on the radar — it’s all part of this global dominance that these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in the Caribbean Premier League.
“They own all six teams I believe in the new South African tournament that’s coming up, which will be locking horns for commercial space and airtime with the Big Bash (League)," he added. “It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it’s having to monopolise that ownership and the ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can’t play.
“David Warner, again, using him as an example, we can’t question his commitment to Australian cricket over the years, he’s carved out one of the great careers. If he rides off into the sunset and says, ‘Sorry Australian cricket, I’m going to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various tournaments’ you can’t question him on that, that’s his prerogative and he’s done everything he needs to get the profile and get that market value."
Earlier, it was reported that Warner's lack of involvement in the Big Bash League has a lot to do with the leadership ban imposed on him by Cricket Australia post the ball-tampering scandal.
A number of Australian legends, including Allan Border and Greg Chappell, have urged CA to lift the ban so that Warner can lead a BBL side.
Gilchrist also fears that the younger lot might follow in Warner’s footsteps and leave the Australian system to showcase their skills in foreign T20 leagues.
“It’s the new younger player coming in that starts to make those noises where it’ll be really challenging. Perhaps it’s the first example where David Warner doesn’t sign a contract with Cricket Australia at all, he just plays for a match fee.
“He goes and plays whatever he wants but says, ‘I’m available for every Test match, for every one-day international and every T20 international’ by way of example, I’ll be there for you in national colours. But other than that, I’m going to play my club, my franchise cricket, wherever I want to, knowing that none of those big tournaments will be clashing with international cricket," he remarked.
