a question to Boycott on espncricinfo!
GB: I think it's petty but it's up to the WICB and it's their choice. If the WICB had any sense they would have delayed the dates until after the final of the IPL. Then there would have been no conflict whatsoever. Let's be honest, let's face the reality. This, in the last few years, has been a lucky, golden era for talented cricketers to make pots of money playing the IPL in India and over Twenty20 around the world. And it's no good that administrators or ex-players who never played IPL, and some members of the public who don't like T20, say these players should put their countries first. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many young men, many young cricketers to earn sums of money they never dreamed of. IPL and T20 around the world maybe here to stay for years, it may not. Those who have never received these huge sums of money should not be jealous or miffed or irritated with these opportunities. I never got those opportunities, Gavaskar didn't. I can give you loads of players from the past. But these kids today are getting opportunities. They have chances to play for huge sums of money. And I think you just got to be pleased for them. Show some common sense, wish them well, be magnanimous, accept that T20 and IPL are here. And asking these young cricketers to save the opportunity of a lifetime, I'll say, is absolutely silly and ridiculous. The money is too good to turn down and people should always put themselves in the same position as Narine and say, "Listen, can I afford to give this up?" West Indies money isn't anywhere near the sums he gets paid for playing IPL. I never got that sums of money but I wish the kid well. And I wish a lot of administrators, ex-players, people who never had this chance, shouldn't be jealous or irritated by it, just wish them well. And organise their calendars or fixtures just to fit in a bit with IPL. Wish the kids well and be glad for them, not petty.
GB: I think it's petty but it's up to the WICB and it's their choice. If the WICB had any sense they would have delayed the dates until after the final of the IPL. Then there would have been no conflict whatsoever. Let's be honest, let's face the reality. This, in the last few years, has been a lucky, golden era for talented cricketers to make pots of money playing the IPL in India and over Twenty20 around the world. And it's no good that administrators or ex-players who never played IPL, and some members of the public who don't like T20, say these players should put their countries first. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many young men, many young cricketers to earn sums of money they never dreamed of. IPL and T20 around the world maybe here to stay for years, it may not. Those who have never received these huge sums of money should not be jealous or miffed or irritated with these opportunities. I never got those opportunities, Gavaskar didn't. I can give you loads of players from the past. But these kids today are getting opportunities. They have chances to play for huge sums of money. And I think you just got to be pleased for them. Show some common sense, wish them well, be magnanimous, accept that T20 and IPL are here. And asking these young cricketers to save the opportunity of a lifetime, I'll say, is absolutely silly and ridiculous. The money is too good to turn down and people should always put themselves in the same position as Narine and say, "Listen, can I afford to give this up?" West Indies money isn't anywhere near the sums he gets paid for playing IPL. I never got that sums of money but I wish the kid well. And I wish a lot of administrators, ex-players, people who never had this chance, shouldn't be jealous or irritated by it, just wish them well. And organise their calendars or fixtures just to fit in a bit with IPL. Wish the kids well and be glad for them, not petty.
