What Will Happen To Smaller Cricket-Playing Nations If We Cut Down On Bilateral Cricket – Deep Dasgupta

Former Indian player Deep Dasgupta has expressed his views on the hectic cricket schedule throughout the year.

Since the time England all-rounder Ben Stokes retired from ODI cricket this week, a lot has been questioned about the player’s workload and cricket boards playing too many bilateral series across a calendar year.

With the growth of franchise cricket bolstering the pockets of top cricket boards, it is simultaneously played with bilateral series.

We cannot see today’s cricket through the prism of the past: Deep Dasgupta

The ICC World Super League, which will determine the direct qualification of seven teams in next year’s 2023 World Cup, will be stopped after this cycle. The best part of this format is that it allowed second-tier nations to compete with the strongest international team in the world.

Dasgupta pointed out that busy schedules also include matches against bottom-ranked teams and it serves as exposure for their players to play at the top level.

“We cannot see today’s cricket through the prism of the past. It is changing every day. It is easy to say that too much cricket is taking place but what happens to the smaller cricket-playing nations if we cut down on bilateral cricket?” Dasgupta was quoted as saying by News9.

“What will the players, who don’t get to play too much international or franchise cricket, do? Can players from Ireland, Afghanistan or even Bangladesh or Sri Lanka say that we are playing too much cricket? From Afghanistan, only Rashid Khan features in every franchise league. What about other players?” Dasgupta added. 

Bigger boards have the luxury to rest their players: Deep Dasgupta

According to a report by News9, since June 2022, England have used 32 different players in all formats of men’s internationals. India have had 29 players. Sri Lanka and West Indies have fielded 27 players each while New Zealand have had 25 different players.

Dasgupta is of the opinion that well-to-do administrators can afford to rotate their players in different series and formats and the viewers should start accepting this module.

“Bigger boards are in the position to complain about the calendar. But they also have the luxury to rest their players without impacting the quality too much. Cricket is changing and every stakeholder will have to be flexible,” Dasgupta said.

“Players, who are playing for bigger boards and across formats, will have to be rested and as viewers, we will sometimes have to accept it,” he added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is due to finalise its next Future Tours Programme (FTP) on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. The number of matches are likely to surge with India and Australia set to play five matches in Border Gavaskar Trophy.

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