Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has raised concerns about the growing influence of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in international cricket leagues. He believes that the emergence of IPL-owned teams in other leagues could create conflicts of interest, with players prioritising their franchise commitments over international duties.
Ian Chappell Warns CA, ECB of IPL Franchise Expansion
Recent reports suggest that IPL franchises are exploring opportunities to invest in the Hundred, a cricket tournament in England. The GMR Group, owner of the Delhi Capitals, is reportedly acquiring a stake in the Southern Brave team. This development could potentially set a precedent for other IPL teams to follow suit, further intensifying Chappell's concerns.
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Several former cricketers have expressed their apprehensions about the increasing involvement of IPL franchises in international leagues. Joining the chorus of concerns, former Australian batter Ian Chappell warned that players may prioritize their franchise commitments over national duties if this trend continues. Chappell emphasized the potential negative impact on international cricket if IPL franchises acquire more teams in other T20 leagues.
"The trend of successful companies having a greater say in the running of the game is increasing rapidly as IPL owners already own large stakes in T20 teams playing in the UAE, USA, South Africa, and the Caribbean. The shrewd owners are also starting to sign top-rated players to longer contracts and that should be a warning to cricket administrations," Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
"The better players could become beholden to an IPL owner rather than their own cricket board. That is when conflict of interest becomes a divisive issue," he added.
Ian Chappell Criticizes Cricket Administrators
Ian Chappell has criticized cricket administrators for their failure to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of the game. He argued that the current situation, with IPL franchises expanding their influence, could have been better managed if administrators had anticipated the potential consequences. Chappell believes that a clear roadmap for the sport's development would have helped mitigate the challenges posed by the evolving cricket landscape
"This isn't a surprise as the game in most countries desperately needs money and the IPL owners are financially flush. Cricket administrators must accept the blame for not producing a long-term blueprint for the game a couple of decades ago," Chappell wrote in the column.
"That way they could at least have had a viable plan for the game to deal with this issue. That is unless cricket administrators worldwide are convinced the future is purely the T20 game run by rich franchises," he further added.
IPL's Global Dominance and Hundred Investment
The influence of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises has extended beyond the Indian subcontinent, with investments in various T20 leagues worldwide, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Major League Cricket (MLC), SA20, and the United Arab Emirates. The IPL's reach has also extended to England, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in talks with IPL franchises regarding potential investments in The Hundred. The ECB has proposed a model where the eight teams, primarily county-owned, retain a 51 per cent majority stake. However, IPL franchises are seeking a larger stake, aiming for a controlling 51 per cent ownership in their respective teams.
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