There is no doubt that since the inception of the Indian Premier League, this marquee league has taken giant steps towards becoming the world’s best sports league. As the current situation demonstrates, the IPL has already established itself as the biggest league in the game of cricket. However, that has led to many former cricketers from England and Australia criticizing the cash-rich league. However, Sunil Gavaskar has slammed all those critics.
Many former players and analysts have said that the IPL is hurting the international calendar in a big way. Notably, former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist stated a week ago that the increasing influence of the IPL is dangerous for the cricket world. His remark came after the IPL franchises bought the teams in the new T20 leagues in South Africa and the UAE.
Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column that it is amusing how the world is blaming the IPL for disrupting the cricket calendar. Notably, this is not the first time that someone from England or Australia has made a comment over the expandation of the IPL. Earlier, many former English players have shown their disagreement with the influence of the cash-rich league.
Gavaskar quoted, “The moment the news about the South African T20 league and the UAE T20 league came out. The ‘old powers’ started squirming and got their apologists to have a go at the IPL. By all means, look after your cricket interests. But hey, please don’t interfere in ours and tell us what to do.”
“It’s worrying them some of their players opting to play there instead of BBL”- Sunil Gavaskar
The former Indian skipper highlighted that due to the start of the South African and UAE T20 leagues, England and Australia may lose some star players due to profitable deals with these leagues. Because these leagues will be played around the Australian Big Bash league.
Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that the worrying thing for Australia is that some players might opt to play in such leagues rather than in the BBL. That is why it concerns them, because they have also got a private window for BBL. Notably, the IPL franchises have bought all six teams in the new South African league. And the franchises for the UAE league are also Indian groups.
