Former England captain Michael Atherton expressed fears about the sport’s future as the Indian Premier League (IPL) grows in popularity. Test cricket, according to Michael Atherton, is in severe jeopardy because the competition will necessitate a longer window.
The winning bidders were the RPSG Group and CVC Capital. Which paid exorbitant sums to obtain the new Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises. 7090 crores (£694 million) and 5625 crores (£554 million) paid out by the two private investors.
The proprietors of Manchester United, a well-known football club, also put in an offer, but were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the cash-rich league will host 74 matches starting in 2022, thanks to the addition of two extra teams. Former Indian cricketers, on the other hand, have praised the initiative and are anxious to see more talent emerge from the competition.
Michael Atherton
Michael Atherton is concerned that the amount of time taken up by franchise and international cricket may be excessive. As a result, Atherton believes that the players will be swayed. By the enormous money and Test cricket would suffer as a result.
“There will be adverse knock-on effects. The calendar cannot contain the competing demands of international and franchise cricket as it is now. With a two-month window allotted for the IPL. India will want a longer window and, who knows. Maybe the owners will eventually want a second station carved out of the schedule.” he said
“Cricketers will follow the money. If the market is left unchecked, and the least profitable aspects of the game will suffer notably Test cricket among countries with small television markets. Relations between the players and their principal employers will fray. Some, like New Zealand, have simply accepted reality and allow their players absolute freedom to pick and choose.” The 53-year old continued
It remains to be seen how the BCCI also manages the bio-bubble fatigue that is bound to occur amongst players amid a long tournament. Several cricketers have emphasized the need for a break after spending an extended time in quarantine.
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