MCC on growth of franchise-based T20 leagues
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"Bilateral cricket, and indeed Test cricket, is more popular in some parts of the world than others. With this in mind, we need to ensure that funding is more evenly distributed across the member nations. It is inconceivable that the game's heart and soul can be affluent in some countries and almost unaffordable in others," Gatting said in a statement.
Aware of how fast the game is evolving and how it will shape in ten year's time, Gatting feels if the right steps towards balancing the global economics of cricket is not taken now, two of the traditional formats could suffer an adverse fate.
The committee felt strongly that the opportunity to better balance the global economics of the game must be seized now so that this current position of strength can help secure the sustainability of the international game for all ICC Member nations and future generations," the MCC said. The concerns of the members, admittedly, centred on the future of the game, specifically what global cricket might look like in ten years' time, and should it be left to evolve organically.
Stressing over the current Mens FTP that reflects a worrisome picture given how packed it is because of the induction of several franchise-based T20 leagues around world, Gatting feels the international cricket must be protected at any cost although no measures or guidelines were laid down as of now as to how it would be done.
"The purpose of such foresight was to examine how international cricket can be protected, amidst a global cricketing schedule that is increasingly filled with short-form franchise tournaments," it said. "Also notable in the new men's FTP is an alarming and growing disparity in the amount of international cricket played by a minority of member nations compared to others; a situation which is clearly neither equitable nor sustainable, Gatting said.
Friday, March 10, 2023 at 2:40 am