Chris Gayle Advocates for Dedicated IPL Window
In the latest episode of the Spirit of Cricket podcast for DafaNews, West Indies veteran cricketer Chris Gayle expressed his views on the scheduling of international cricket alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Gayle’s IPL Journey
Chris Gayle, a legendary figure in the IPL, began his journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2009. He later moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2011, where he significantly contributed to the team’s success. He concluded his IPL career with Punjab Kings in 2021.
The Issue of Overlapping Schedules
Gayle criticized the overlap of international cricket with the IPL, stating that it primarily benefits Team India. “When the IPL is going on, you see players who have to leave the tournament to go play for their countries. If you have an IPL window [then] it should just be the IPL in that window,” Gayle remarked. He emphasized that having international matches during the IPL window is “unfair” and “one-sided.”
Impact on Players and Teams
This season, several English players had to miss the final stages of the IPL due to their T20 series against Pakistan, which was scheduled right before the ongoing T20 World Cup. Gayle highlighted the disruption this causes to both the players and the IPL teams.
The Dominance of BCCI
Gayle acknowledged the dominance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the cricketing world, stating, “No one can speak to India. India runs cricket. You have to face reality; it’s facts. Who is going to talk to India? Who is going to challenge India? No one. They run cricket.”
India’s Performance in T20 World Cup
Team India remains undefeated in the T20 World Cup 2024 and is set to face England in the semi-final on June 27.
Conclusion
Gayle’s call for a dedicated IPL window highlights the growing tension between international commitments and franchise cricket, emphasizing the need for better scheduling to accommodate the interests of all stakeholders in the sport.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)