Brian Lara Painfully Admits West Indies is ‘Stepping Stone’ For Franchise Cricket Contracts

Interestingly, West Indies legend Brian Lara, despite having retired from International cricket in 2007, entered the 2011 IPL auctions but went unsold.

Brian Lara Painfully Admits West Indies is ‘Stepping Stone’ For Franchise Cricket Contracts

Brian Lara admitted that the West Indies cricket team has become a stage for players to earn franchise T20 contracts. (via News 24)

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West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara disappointingly admitted the frail condition of the country’s cricket board, following a series of dismal international results. Lara also stated that West Indian players today use the national team as a stage to garner attention from T20 leagues.

Despite a glorious past that includes winning two ODI World Cups, the West Indies team has struggled significantly in recent years. The Windies’ lowest point arrived when they failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, a first in the tournament’s history. While many anticipated a change in the team’s fortunes with the introduction of new talents and fresh faces after that, the team has continued to struggle.

The Windies’ struggles have been exacerbated by their recent whitewash against Australia in a three-match red-ball series played at home. Since the beginning of the year, they have secured only one victory out of the five Tests played. Against the Australians, while the West Indies bowlers shone, their batting came under intense scrutiny, as the team failed to successfully chase targets in all three matches.

The final Test match against Australia left the entire West Indies cricket board in disarray, prompting an emergency meeting with legends Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, and Vivian Richards. At Sabina Park in Kingston, they were humiliatingly bowled out for a mere 27 runs in just 14.3 overs, just one run shy of New Zealand’s Test record low of 26. Australian speedster Mitchell Starc single-handedly dismissed the majority of the West Indies batting lineup, claiming a six-wicket haul.

In the midst of the ongoing crisis, Brian Lara, speaking on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast, subtly criticized cash-rich T20 leagues worldwide, such as the IPL, suggesting they have contributed to the decline of cricket in the West Indies.

He further claimed that West Indian players use the national team merely as a platform to gain attention and secure massive contracts from T20 franchises, subsequently prioritizing these leagues over representing their country.

We played first-class cricket and some of us even played county cricket to try to get into the West Indies team. We are now using the team as a stepping stone, as a stage to get, you know, contracts around.

Brian Lara further noted that this trend differs from the previous era, when players typically established themselves by consistently performing in domestic cricket. Agreeing with the 56-year-old’s assessment, former England cricketer David Lloyd, went a step further by blaming the ‘big three’, India, Australia, and England for the decline of West Indies cricket. He surprisingly claimed that these three nations take away all the revenue, and therefore called for a more equitable distribution.

The big three, they take all the money. England, Australia, India take off the money. They get the big broadcast deals.

Thereafter, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for West Indies cricket, and whether the team manages to revive its past glory. They will be hoping to avenge their humiliating Test series defeat when they face Australia in a five-match T20I series, set to begin next week.

Brian Lara Holds West Indies Cricket Board Responsible for Nicolas Pooran’s International Retirement

A month ago, Nicholas Pooran shocked West Indies’ cricket fans by announcing his retirement from international cricket, at a relatively young age of 29. Former cricketer Brian Lara has now come out to criticize the West Indies Cricket Board, holding them responsible for the left-hander’s decision.

Brian Lara on Nicholas Pooran
Brian Lara blamed the West Indies cricket board for Nicolas Pooran’s retirement. (via Circle of Cricket)

Brian Lara expressed concern over the West Indies Cricket Board’s inability to incentivize young players, which has led them to prioritize T20 franchise tournaments over remaining loyal for their country. The 56-year-old further stated that nations like England, Australia, and India adequately and offer their players financial stability and support, unlike the West Indies, allowing their national priorities to remain intact.

The truth is, I don’t think the West Indies Cricket Board has done anything meaningful to keep players loyal to West Indies cricket… So naturally, our players are going to look elsewhere.

Furthermore, Brian Lara also stated that this kind of a situation is not unique to the West Indies, but is also present in South Africa and New Zealand. Kane Williamson is an example, with the ex-Kiwi skipper recently opting out of the national team to participate in England’s T20 Blast and The Hundred.