49% of cricketers ready to reject national contracts for T20 leagues, FICA report
cricketers reject T20 leagues: As many as 49 percent of international cricketers, barring Indian players. If they get more money they are willing to give their national central contracts to play in the T20.
- 49 percent of international cricketers ready to give up central contracts
- World players’ body FICA highlights T20 league dominance in a new survey
- ODI World Cup is still considered the most important cricket tournament.
The T20 revolution seems to be taking over cricket sooner than expected as the majority of international cricketers Also, Barring Indian players, are ready to give up their country’s central contracts. As to become freelance agents and secure T20 league contracts across the globe. As said by the world players’ association FICA in its annual report.
49 percent of international cricketers give up a central contract to play in T20 leagues. The report does not include observations from India as Indian cricketers are not under the FICA reports from PTI
“49% would consider rejecting a central contract if they were paid more to play in domestic leagues,”
The free Agency Market, as the report categorizes the current employment scenario in world cricket, is taking over world cricket.
The three distinct categories according to the FICA report are
- The Traditional market– The division of percentage is 18% in the traditional market which is about players having primary home domestic/international contracts.
- Hybrid market– The Hybrid Market, which involves primary home domestic/international contracts as well as overseas domestic contracts has 42% cricketers.
- Free Agency Market– The Hybrid Market, which involves primary home domestic/international contracts as well as overseas domestic contracts has 42% cricketers.
While the most alarming rate of increase is the Free Agency market which constitutes 40 percent.
The free agency market solely involves multiple homes and overseas domestic contracts
Interestingly, the inference drawn from the trend is that the traditional market only constitutes Indian players as they are not allowed to play overseas T20 leagues.
“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,”
What the FICA report says:
“54% still consider the 50 over World Cup as the pinnacle ICC event. Although this has reduced significantly from 86% in the 2018-19.
“Most of the best players in the world are now in the hybrid / free agency markets. The percentages plotted above only reflect central/nationally contracted players featuring within the top 100 of the T20 Player Index.
Almost all of the 18% ‘traditional market’ players are from India. Highlighting the restraints placing on these players preventing participation in overseas domestic leagues.
While the West Indies players were pioneers of giving up central contracts to play in T20 leagues, New Zealand players are following the trend in the recent past. Top-rated left-arm pacer Trent Boult recently gave up their central contract along with Colin de Grand Homme and Martin Guptill.
Pacer Tim Southee, speaking to the press on November 29, said the trend is likely to continue in international cricket as lucrative T20 league deals are changing the landscape of cricket.
The survey suggests that there is a dip in the percentage of cricketers. Some still think that the ODI World Cup is the most important event in the calendar year.
