FICA report reveals 49% cricketers prepared to forego national contract for overseas leagues

Indian Premier League (Source: BCCI/IPL)

It isn't far enough and surely, it is inevitable. The loss of taste in ODI cricket has majorly been due to the rise of T20 leagues that attract players from all over the place. The desire to earn such heavy paychecks comes at a cost, that is too much damaging. Hence, the game needs a resurgence or rejig that could change its fortune.

Now, what comes as a dispiriting piece of information for international cricket fanatics, Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) have revealed that 49% players barring India and Pakistan, are ready to pursue their careers in T20 league cricket on full-time basis if offered more salaries than their national contract.

"49% would consider rejecting a central contract if they were paid more to play in domestic leagues,"

Further, the report emphasised on the overall impact of the changing dynamics where players are now more inclined towards accepting the overseas deals. 

The emergence of this culture could be traced back to the era of T20 specialized West Indies side who are now global freelancers. Recently, this trend has reached the Kiwi shores with Trent Boult, Martin Guptill and Colin de Grandhomme being the latest victims.

"The growing trend is for players to move towards hybrid or free agent status, with 82% of the top 100 players from the T20 Player Index now in this category. 40% of the top T20 players in the world now do not have a central contract with a top nine cricket country,"

However, there's some positive news that more than half still believing the 50-over World Cup to be the ultimate global event but still the numbers have decreased.

"54% still consider the 50 over World Cup as the pinnacle ICC event, although this has reduced significantly from 86% in the 2018/19 FICA survey."

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