IPL 2022: Do Not Make Players Make This Difficult Choice - Aakash Chopra On SA Players Choosing IPL Over Bangladesh Tests
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra asserted that the players shouldn’t be made to choose if they want to play in the IPL or represent their country at the international level.
The debate between franchise cricket and international cricket was brought up once again after South African Test players unanimously agreed to go to the IPL and skip the 2-match Test series at home against the visiting Bangladesh team.
“Do not make players make this difficult choice. The club versus country conflict will keep continuing, there will be different opinions on it but the fact is the players will choose IPL ahead of bilateral commitments and the boards will not be able to stop it.”
“Let’s be honest, there are a lot of players – Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram. There is nothing known about Anrich Nortje at the moment, neither is he playing for his country nor does it seem that he will play the IPL,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Is IPL bullying the other boards?” – Aakash Chopra
South African skipper Dean Elgar had said that he will try his best to convince the players to stay and play for the Test team. Unfortunately, the temptation of the IPL seems to have a bigger impact on the players’ minds and they are willing to give up playing Test matches for the IPL.
“The question that stems from this is – Is club bigger than the country? The club versus country debate has caught a little fire again. Dean Elgar had said this will be a loyalty test. The question is – Is IPL bullying the other boards?”
“IPL has not said anything, IPL in fact says that when Cricket South Africa gives the NOC (No Objection Certificate), they get 10% from the players’ salary. This is how the market of international cricket works,” he further added.
The IPL 2022 season begins on March 26 with the first game to be played between CSK and KKR in Mumbai.
