New Delhi: Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop, believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has regularised cricket for several countries by providing opportunities to players from small-town areas to engage and play with the top cricketers in the game.
“Look, the IPL certainly has democratised cricket for many countries who may not necessarily have had their players playing against the top cricketers. Sandeep Lamichhane (spinner from Nepal) is one example, the IPL has certainly challenged the game,” Bishop told former Zimbabwe pacer Pommie Mbangwa during an Instagram Live chat.
He also explained how the West Indies turned out to have lost some great players as the management was not completely aware of the concept of T20 and how it contributed to the financial security of the players.
“In the West Indies, initially the administrators did not know the value of T20 cricket and as a result, it had a bad effect. We lost a few significant few players from West Indies for a period of time, and only now we see countries allowing its players to play the IPL,” Bishop confessed.
“We have missed so many important players and I think it has set back West Indies cricket a little bit, but I never will be envious of what a player is able to earn now to secure his financial future. I am happy to see these young guys have such security for their families,” he added.
The IPL 2020 starts in the UAE from September 19. There shall be a total of 12 Windies players who are supposed to play in the IPL this year. They are — Sherfane Rutherford, Kieron Pollard (both Mumbai Indians), Dwayne Bravo (CSK), Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul (both Delhi Capitals), Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cotterell (all Kings XI Punjab), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine (both KKR), Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals), and Fabien Allen (SunRisers Hyderabad).
