LONDON, CMC – Tim May has confirmed that Chris Gayle is only one of many international players who feel they will have to choose between their countries and private franchise-based Twenty20 events in the future.
The head of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations said in surveys that they have conducted several international players felt much the same way as Gayle.
“Simply, something must give or players will be faced to make a decision between representing their country and playing in franchise-type Twenty20 events,” said May in an interview with Cricinfo. “A healthy balance of optimising commercial revenues and player workload needs to be set by the ICC and its members in order for international cricket to retain its attractiveness to players.” May noted that the international calendar will soon have no less than five Twenty20 leagues involving international players and they will have to be accommodated along with Tests and One-day Internationals.
He listed the event as the Indian Premier League, Pro 20 in England, Southern Premier League involving South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the Champions League, a possible IPL second season, and International Cricket Council competitions. “The more Twenty20 events that are programmed in any calendar year, the easier it will be for players to turn their back on international cricket,” said May. “The trend that we observe, through our surveys of players, is that more and more players state that they have less an attachment to international cricket with the emergence of competitions such as the Indian Premier League. “More and more cricketers are frustrated with the clustered international calendar and the time that is being spent away from wives, families and friends.”
May also said the FICA was concerned about the requirements under the new ICC Anti-Doping Code that players must inform the ICC 90 days in advance (each quarter) a location and time that they will be available each day in that quarter for drug-testing. The players’ boss also felt the time had come for the ICC to give the players’ association a seat in its all-powerful executive board.
