Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Charbel Coorey
Former Indian captain and one of the best batters of all time, Sunil Gavaskar, has expressed his displeasure about the overseas players’ unavailability and ‘workload’ during the IPL.
As per The Hindustan Times, the Indian legend was very critical about the situation in his column for Sportstar.
He said, “To suggest that the franchise was ‘informed before’ is not a great excuse. And ‘informed before’ is how much before the opening day of the tournament? Playing for the country is paramount and comes before franchise cricket, but don’t the franchises, who open not just their wallets but also their hearts to players and often their families, deserve full commitment?”
Kolkata Knight Riders are one bowler short, and their premier all-rounder, Cameron Green, is not bowling due to workload management as he’s recovering from a back injury. Ajinkya Rahane’s “ask Cricket Australia” comment sparked this controversy.
Cooper Connolly from Punjab is also not bowling while SRH skipper Pat Cummins, DC pacer Mitchell Starc, and RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood are out of the first half of the IPL due to workload management and injuries.
“If the body is that fragile, then rest for 2 months”: Sunil Gavaskar on overseas players missing IPL action
Gavaskar further mentioned that bowling four overs in a game is not too to ask from the players, and they should rest for the IPL if their body is that ‘fragile’.
“It is also worth remembering that a bowler can bowl only four overs in a match. If they have bowled a similar number of deliveries in practice without issue, what is stopping them from doing so in the game? As a bowler, you are expected to bowl 56 overs across 14 league games over two months and, if your team reaches the final, perhaps another two or three games and 12 more overs,” Gavaskar wrote.
“C’mon, for a generation that keeps talking about how fit they are, that’s no load at all. Four overs in a match, and that too not in one stretch, is too much for the body? Man, if the body is that fragile, then it’s best to give it two more months’ rest, isn’t it?” he further added.
Gavaskar also went to mention that the IPL is the only franchise where the overseas boards are paid a commission.
“The IPL has been a cash cow not just for overseas players but for their boards too. Does the average Indian fan know that cricket boards get 10% of the fee a player from their country is bought for? It is not clear whether the BCCI or the franchise pays this commission for issuing the No Objection Certificate,” he wrote.
“No other T20 league in the world pays a single dime to the boards of overseas players. Not even The Hundred, which held its first auction recently. Since four out of six teams have Indian owners, why not milk the cash cow?” he wrote.”
The former Indian opener says the BCCI should consider a ban on players who are not available from the first game except for being on national duty.
“Maybe the BCCI needs to step in and, as they have done by banning overseas players for two years for pulling out after being bought at the auction, introduce something similar for players who are not available from the first game of the tournament unless they are on national duty. This will send a strong message to those who think they can take Indian cricket for granted,” he concluded.
