Cricketers should put country first before going after T20 leagues, says Brian Lara

Former Windies captain Brian Lara feels that the current lot of cricketers should give priority to international cricket rather than focusing on cash-rich T20 leagues around the world. The Windies itself has had issues with its national team because players have chosen to offer their services as freelance T20 specialists, who now ply their trade in T20 leagues all year round.

The likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine, who are some of the most sought-after cricketers in franchise-based T20 tournaments, have had very few opportunities to represent the Windies due to rifts with the national cricket board.

As a result, the Windies have been forced to play with a depleted and sub-standard side. Most recently, their Test team’s inexperience and weaknesses were exposed as Team India registered two emphatic victories in a 2-match Test series. The visiting Windies side lost both Tests inside 3 days – India were also able to register their biggest ever Test victory in the first Test at Rajkot, by a margin of an innings and 272 runs.

Playing for country should be dream of every youngster: Brian Lara

Speaking to yorkshireccc.com, Lara said, “I think it’s great (all the T20 leagues), but in terms of preserving the importance of playing for your country, I think there’s one little issue with that – the younger players who want to concentrate on getting an IPL contract or a Big Bash contract. But I still believe that playing for your country must be the biggest thing. It should be the dream of every youngster.”

He suggested that a player should only go into the open market once he has represented the country for a stipulated number of games. Lara’s comment comes in wake of news that Windies international Evin Lewis had turned down a central contract from Cricket Windies, as he looked to branch off as yet another T20 freelancer like many of his illustrious team-mates have.

“Maybe there should be a stipulation where you have to represent your country so many times before you go out ‘open market’. I know a few players where if you offered them an IPL contract tomorrow or playing for the West Indies, they are most likely going to take the IPL contract because maybe there’s more money or more excitement. That’s the only thing I feel should be stemmed, something should be done,” Lara concluded.

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