England Players Would Retire For IPL Cash

A survey by the Professional Cricketers Association has revealed that around half of England players would consider ‘retiring prematurely’ in favour of lucrative contracts with the new Indian Premier League.

A total of 334 cricketers, including 15 who represented England last winter, were questioned before the 2008 season. The survey was carried out before the recent announcement of a £50m series between England and a West Indies XI, backed by billionaire Sir Allen Stanford.

The PCA statement read: ‘It is clear the new monies since the Indian leagues have unbalanced the cricketing landscape.

‘It seems unlikely that any other competition around the cricketing world could put as much money on the table and create a competition of equal proportions in the near future and therefore IPL will remain a threat, a force and an opportunity to the cricketing world for some time to come.’
 
The Stanford plan would not preclude England players from also pursuing IPL contracts, whenever their international commitments and county permit.

The survey also revealed that 45% of players questioned would consider signing up for rival Indian series the ICL, even though it could result in a 12-month ban from county cricket, and 89% believe ‘freedom of movement should prevail in regard to Indian cricket leagues’.

However, 56% agreed with the statement that ‘Twenty20 and its growing popularity threaten other forms of the game’.
 
The PCA also expressed concerns about Twenty20 domination of cricket in its report which forms the background for the survey results.

‘The current imbalance between remuneration for Twenty20 cricket and the longer forms of the game does present a very real threat to the existing fabric of the game,’ the report states.

‘The financial rewards offered by the Indian leagues will entice players to retire early from county and international cricket – and senior players at that. The impact on the strength of our international sides would be huge.

‘This would have the potential to significantly devalue our TV rights as well as reducing the attraction of English cricket to the fans.’

The PCA study recommends a gap in the international cricket schedule in March and April to prevent England players having to choose between their country and the financial attractions of the sub-continent.

Regarding international matches, 93% of those players questioned felt it was important that Test cricket maintained its current status.

The PCA report also reveals a dramatic increase in non-England qualified players in the domestic game.

Excluding overseas players, in 2007 there were 30 non-England players in the county game, but that rose to 62 for the start of the 2008 season, and the report warns the figure is likely to rise further if county players opt for the ICL and are banned for 12 months.

The structure of English cricket is currently under review and Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has advocated changing the format of the County Championship to feature three conferences, instead of the current two divisions.

However 90% of the players questioned feel the time is right to drop the Pro40 competition from the schedule, leaving three competitions instead of four.

Of those surveyed, 62% now rate the Championship as the most important domestic competition following the announcement of plans for a Twenty20 Champions League involving domestic teams from around the world.