The popularity of league tournaments such as the IPL is not only among spectators but also for players since it is an attractive and lucrative option. It has now been suggested by FICA’s chief executive that more windows be created for IPL like events so that that players are not forced to choose them over international cricket and the honour of playing for one’s own country.

According to May there will soon be a time when players will have to choose between money and country. "Simply, something must give or players will be faced to make a decision between representing their country and playing in franchise-type Twenty20 events. A healthy balance of optimizing commercial revenues and player workload needs to be set by the ICC and its members in order for international cricket to retain its attractiveness to players. The more Twenty20 events that are programmed in any calendar year, the easier it will be for players to turn their back on international cricket,” he opined.

According to May, there needs to be a balance between international cricket fixtures and opportunities for earning revenues from commercial ventures like T20 cricket leagues. Currently there is the perception that there is just too much international cricket being played, which not only puts too much pressure on the players, it also results in the players being on tour constantly and reduces the amount of time they are able to spend with family and friends at home.

Another concern raised by May when speaking in the cricket news is about the ICC Anti Doping Policy now includes, as per a mandatory instruction from WADA that players provide their ‘Whereabouts information’ which has been the subject matter of much cricket controversy and which May feels could be counterproductive because it could end up roping in the wrong athletes simply because they may not be “administratively inclined”.

May also called for a higher participation of the FICA in the activities of international cricket and a revamping of the administrative structure of the ICC. It is his position that the ICC is full of “conflict of interests” and that it doesn't contain a “healthy balance of skills to address the key areas of both sport and commercial issues.” May feels that the ICC rarely makes decisions in the interests of the game as a whole - they are typically made on "party lines" and what is best for that particular directors' constituency," he feels.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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