According to reports, Indian inter-city T20 leagues have made a staggering $1 million offer to Australian pace phenom Pat Cummins. The Australian Test captain declined the invitation right away because he prioritized representing his country over competing in other profitable cricket leagues.
In the Indian Premier League, Cummins already plays for Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL). He was one of the players who was released months before the IPL 2022 mega auction, but the two-time champions for the tournament's 15th season bought him back.
“These opportunities are huge and they are popping up more and more often,” Cummins was quoted by Fox News. “Playing for your country, international cricket at the moment is still number one for just about everyone, especially here in Australia, but we can’t just take that for granted."
The article further mentioned that many of the state associations under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are attempting to sign up international cricket players for their city-based local franchise tournaments.
With the launch of two new franchise leagues, the South African and UAE-based ILT20, franchise cricket has become increasingly dominant over international cricket (SA20). Both leagues' inaugural seasons are expected to begin in early 2023.
The fact that many teams in the two leagues are directly controlled by IPL franchises and that they have provided players with attractive contracts to encourage their participation should also be mentioned.
Trent Boult and James Neesham, two of New Zealand's top players, have turned down central contracts in order to play in franchise-based leagues. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, two prominent players for the West Indies, have been criticized for neglecting their country's duties in favor of franchise leagues.