Adam Gilchrist, a legendary wicketkeeper from Australia, questioned the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises' growing dominance in international cricket and asserted that the most recent trend of their "monopolization" is dangerous. Gilchrist made his remarks in response to news that David Warner would not be returning to the Big Bash League this year.
Earlier reports claimed that Warner would skip the BBL in favor of playing in the debut season of the UAE T20 league, which will take place in January alongside the BBL. The Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals are three IPL teams who have invested in the UAE T20 tournament.
“They can’t force David Warner to play in BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off – or another player, let’s not single out Warner because there will be other players on the radar – it’s all part of this global dominance that these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in Caribbean Premier League,” Gilchrist told SEN’s Whateley radio show.
“It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it’s having to monopolize that ownership and the ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can’t play,” he added.
“If he (Warner) rides off into the sunset and says, ‘Sorry Australian cricket, I’m going to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various tournaments’, you can’t question him on that, that’s his prerogative and he’s done everything he needs to get the profile and get that market value. It’s the new younger player coming in that starts to make those noises where it’ll be really challenging,” Gilchrist added.