*Former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist on Wednesday voiced concerns overthe Indian Premier League’s (IPL) expanding global footprint, saying thecash-rich league’s efforts to monopolise T20 franchise cricket are becoming“a little bit dangerous.”*
Gilchrist’s comments came in the wake of reports in Australian media sayingbatter David Warner will skip Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) this seasonto participate in a new league in the United Arab Emirates, backed by IPLmoney.
Warner plays for IPL side Delhi Capitals, owned by India’s GMR Group, whichowns a team in the Emirati league. The new tournament’s schedule is set toclash with the BBL’s, which runs from December to early-February 2023.
IPL team owners have also bought all six franchises of South Africa’s newdomestic T20 league, while three IPL franchise owners — of Kolkata,Rajasthan and Punjab — own teams in the Caribbean Premier League.
“I think it would almost be commercial suicide for (Cricket Australia) toallow a player like him (Warner) to go head-to-head up against their owncompetition,” Gilchrist told Australia’s SEN Radio.
“They can’t force David Warner to play in the BBL… But to let him then gooff — or another player, let’s not single out Warner because there will beother players on the radar — it’s all part of this global dominance thatthese IPL franchises are starting to create.
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“… It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it’s having tomonopolise that ownership and the ownership of the players and theirtalents and where they can and can’t play.”
Gilchrist said that veteran Warner’s commitment to Australian cricket couldnot be questioned, but added that younger players could follow in hisfootsteps.
“If he rides off into the sunset and says, ‘Sorry Australian cricket, I’mgoing to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in varioustournaments’, you can’t question him on that,” Gilchrist said.
“That’s his prerogative and he’s done everything he needs to get theprofile and get that market value. It’s the new younger player coming inthat starts to make those noises where it’ll be really challenging.”
