Former Sri Lanka captain Aravinda de Silva admitted that the IPL and other T20 tournaments have benefited cricket, but urged India to allow star players to participate in overseas tournaments. The Indian Premier League has grown into cricket’s most attractive property attracting top foreign talents like England’s. Jos Buttler and of Australia David Warner with millions of dollars to play in the high-octane two-month competition. Aravinda, known for his fierce swings in an illustrious career that included winning the 1996 World Cup, likened current T20 tournaments to British domestic cricket at the end of the last century, where attracts top players from all over the world to learn trades and gain experience.
The 56-year-old, who played for England’s Kent county in the 1990s, told AFP: “It’s like county cricket back in the day gave the English cricketers an edge.
“IPL, Big Bash or in the UK Hundred and T20 Blitz, those are tournaments that allow players to thrive.”
The Indian Premier League started in 2008 and has hosted imitation tournaments around the world.
But it’s still the biggest draw with a recent media rights auction valuing IPL at a whopping $6.2 billion, or $15 million per game, making it bigger in those terms. compared to the English Premier League football which is valued at 11 million dollars per game.
Aravinda said India should allow smaller nations to share in the wealth generated to develop the game, raise global playing standards and improve skill levels, something that will ultimately deliver benefits for IPL.
“If you have a dominant country, you can see from the IPL, they basically monopolize the top leagues because Indian cricketers are not allowed to play in other leagues,” Aravinda said.
“So what’s likely to happen is that the standard – if it continues to fall and if there’s no real competition – at some point, it will affect the global game.
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“Unless (India) finds a way to support other countries and help them capture the level of support the game requires today, that’s a negative for the world of cricket.
“The ICC (the world governing body) has a responsibility to make sure it’s done in such a way that these countries continue to thrive, otherwise we don’t want a situation like Zimbabwe and South Africa, they’ve lost their way. how the shot compares to their cricket standards.”
Sri Lankan players have reaped rewards from the IPL. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.42 million and is the second most valuable player in this year’s 10-team tournament.
Sri Lanka’s version, the LPL, was last played in 2021, with five teams captained by Sri Lankan stars including Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella and Aravinda also praised Pakistan for a great performance with the Pakistan Super League despite a lack of publicity and resources.
Sri Lanka are currently 1-0 down by Australia in the two-match Test series but Aravinda is confident the hosts can fight back in the second game that starts on Friday at Galle.
And he is grateful to Australia for touring the island nation in an international series of five matches in one day and two tests, bringing joy to the people of Sri Lanka, who are suffering. suffered an unprecedented economic crisis.
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“We definitely saw the passion even with all these issues, we had some full houses in the one-day series,” says Aravinda.
“(I) thank the Australians who decided to come and bring smiles to the people of Sri Lanka. It was amazing. I extend my sincere thanks to them.”
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