National Duty vs Domestic League – 6 Top English Players were offered a Multi-Million Pound Deal to Quit International Cricket

Cricket, a sport that embodies national pride and loyalty, has recently found itself entangled in a hot debate. The increasing trend of cricketers being asked to give up their national team commitments and sign with domestic league franchises has raised discussions among fans, players, and the whole cricket world.

According to a recent report by the ‘Times London’, owners of some of the biggest IPL franchises are looking to offer a multi-million-pound deal to six players from the England National Team in their attempts to make them quit international cricket forever and play domestic t20 league cricket throughout the year.

The exact names of these franchises have not been revealed yet, but according to some cricket experts, big franchises like Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings might be the first ones to close a deal like this. In recent years we have witnessed these IPL Franchises have expanded their global footprint by purchasing teams in the SA T20 league (South Africa), ILT20 (UAE), and the upcoming Major T20 League (USA). Also, there is news of these teams getting involved in yet to be launched, the richest of all Saudi T20 League.

What is the deal/offer?

The deal will follow the football model where these English players will play for the same franchise in different leagues across the world and not for their national team, thus, BCCI will become their major employer instead of England Cricket Team or ECB. For example – Moeen Ali will be playing for CSK in IPL, plus all other franchises of CSK in other T20 Leagues. 

Amount – Reportedly the figures range from 5 million pounds to 10 million pounds which roughly equals ₹50 Crore to ₹100 Crore.

Time Period – This will be a 12-month contract.

When to happen – Reportedly by the end of this year.

Who could be the players?

Now the major question is which English players were approached with these kinds of lavish deals. As mentioned above the name of franchises and players have not been disclosed, however, we have made a prediction based on the player’s popularity, career, and stats. According to our expert, these players will be the ones getting this contract:

1. Moeen Ali: Given his talent and mass-hitting power, he will surely get approached for this deal. Moeen has played a total of 64 tests, 129 ODIs, and 74 T20i games and has achieved a lot during his International Career. The 35 years old is very near to his retirement and this will be a golden opportunity for him to quit national cricket and play permanently for the franchises.
2. Jason Roy: Jason Roy is another big name in league cricket. He has been tremendous with his bat in various leagues like BBL & PSL. The 32 years old is not a permanent member of England’s National squad, thus, there are chances that he might get this gorgeous offer from KKR.
3. Liam Livingstone: Another important member of the England Team and domestic franchises, Liam is known for his all-around abilities on the field. The English Cricketer is very likely to get a deal like this, however, there will be no surprise if he rejects it as the 29-year-old has played only a few international games so far.
4. Ben Stokes: Coming from New Zealand, Ben will be the first choice when it comes to deals like this. Known for his all-rounding capabilities he can also be a major contender for captaincy. Chennai Super Kings will surely approach him.
5. Phillip Salt – The next name on our list is the keeper-batsman Phillip Salt. There are very high chances of him getting offers from the Delhi- based franchise. Salt doesn’t have a promising International career having played only 16 t20 and 14 ODI games.
6. Adil Rashid – The second spinner on our list is England’s spin king Adil Rashid. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a great time playing for the England International Team. Adil has helped his side in winning a lot of matches at big levels. The mystery leg spinner will be the first choice for any franchise. Adil has played 95 t20is, 125 ODIs, and 19 test games.

Conclusion:

Money has been a driving element in modern cricket, and league franchises are eager to spend large sums of money to secure top cricketing talent. The rich salaries and sponsorship plans offered by these leagues are often difficult to pass up for players, particularly those from poor families seeking financial security.

Balancing club duties with international commitments is a complex task that requires careful consideration of one’s own ambitions, national pride, and a love of the game. While the game of cricket evolves, it is essential for the players, clubs, governing boards, and fans, to take part in open discussions in order to identify solutions that maintain the integrity of both local and international cricket at the same time. Only then there will be a balance that allows the sport to grow at both domestic and international stages while maintaining the core of national pride.