Aakash Chopra Shares His Take On Whether Indian Players Should Be Allowed To Play Overseas Leagues
Updated - 02 Dec 2022, 05:17 PM
Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has shared his views on whether the centrally contracted India National Cricket Team players should be allowed to participate in overseas franchise leagues, asserting that the main players don’t even have time to play all international games for the side.
In its latest report, FICA segregated the current employment scenario of cricketers into three distinct categories – Traditional market, Hybrid market and Free Agency Market – with all 18% of cricketers falling in the traditional market being Indians as they are not allowed to play overseas leagues.
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Notably, the traditional market is about players having home domestic or international contracts. The hybrid market involves players with home domestic or international contracts, as well as overseas domestic contracts while the free agency market involves multiple home and overseas domestic contracts.
Following India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 exit, many suggested that Indian players should be allowed to participate in overseas leagues so that they can get used to playing in different conditions.
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that the centrally contracted Indian players shouldn’t play overseas franchise leagues. He said:
“The main Indian players, A+ or A contracts, who play two or three formats, firstly they don’t have the time. They don’t even have the time to play all India matches, let’s be honest. When you already need a break, why would you go and play?
“There should be some reason for that, are they going to get extra money? If they get that as well, they will get more through the BCCI’s central contract, which covers for everything you may be able to earn elsewhere.”
Why would you want to leave an Indian-contracted cricketer? – Aakash Chopra
The 45-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra further said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants star Indian players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to take proper rest when they take breaks. He explained:
“At this point in time, you think that Virat Kohli is an asset, we give him seven crore rupees as an A+ contract and that is why we tell him not to go for any other leagues. If you need a break, take rest. Don’t go and play somewhere else running after money. It could be Virat Kohli, Rohit or Rahul – I just took one name.
“So that is the viewpoint of the Indian board, which in my opinion is absolutely correct. When you are talking about workload management, it cannot happen that they don’t play for India and play in other nations’ leagues. That is a red flag, no-no, completely. Why would you want to leave an Indian contracted cricketer?”
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India National Cricket Team KL Rahul Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli
