'It Is A Difficult Ask To Tell Someone To Turn That Down' : Michael Holding On Why Some Players Prefer To Play Franchise Cricket Over Representing Their Country

Former West Indies pace spearhead Michael Holding has asserted himself as the purist of the game. Michael Holding hasn’t been in support of the shortest format and the players who choose to actively play it. Hence, Holding has taken a strong stance against T20 cricket, stating that Test cricket is the best form of the sport. But the retired cricketer has thrown light on why players prefer to play in the T20 leagues more than the national team.

When asked Michael Holding previously as to why doesn’t he take up commentary stints in IPL, the Jamaican reacted by saying he only commentates on cricket. The West Indian players are most known for plying their trade in the franchise cricket over their national team. With the Caribbean cricket board not able to offer massive paycheques, they turn to the T20 leagues to secure their living.

Michael Holding explained their cricketers from poor countries would the ones targetting T20 contracts since that’s where the money comes from. On the other hand, the 67-year old underlined that players from Australia, England, and India are more privileged since the boards pay heftily. Holding underlined that England Test cricketers get contracts worth a million pounds, while Australia’s are worth a million of dollars.

“Cricketers who play cricket for a living, it’s their profession, they are going to look to try and maximise their earnings. Cricketers from the poorer countries, most of them will be thinking to themselves – ‘where can I get a T20 contract?’ Because that’s where the money is. The cricketers from the richer countries, they’ll still want to play in these tournaments, but they don’t have to because your countries – , India, England, their cricketers get huge financial returns from their countries and by playing Test match cricket. A contract is like a million pounds; an Australian contract millions of dollars,” Holding told the Times of India Sportcast.

You have to look at the entire concept of what is going on in each cricketer’s life: Michael Holding

Michael Holding further said that cricketers from poor countries would hardly think of turning down a hefty amount from their franchise teams if their cricket board pays less. The cricketer-turned commentator highlighted that players would not think of refusing it since it’s their living and their careers are not long-lasting either.

“Then also, they will be thinking to themselves – ‘yes, I’m earning enough money by my contract and start to dedicate a lot of my efforts toward my country’. While those who don’t, who is going to turn down $600,000 for six weeks when your country is paying 150,000 for an entire year? It is a difficult ask to tell someone to turn that down. So you have to look at the entire concept of what is going on in each cricketer, because it’s his living. This is how he makes his living. His career is not long-lasting,” he added.

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