Ben Stokes had earlier decided not to be available for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean. He last played for England in colored clothing during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
When asked if his participation in Tests for England might be affected by the growing competition between international and franchise cricket, Stokes said, “It is something that does need to be addressed.”
The rapid rise of T20 franchise cricket over the last decade has left many players feeling both worried and confused. The first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 led to the creation of leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash.
Back then, life was simpler for international cricketers with central contracts, as they didn’t have to give up their contracts to play in these lucrative T20 leagues. However, by 2024, things have changed a lot.
New leagues like the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Major League Cricket (MLC), SA20, ILT20, Global T20 Canada, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Lanka Premier League (LPL) have emerged. Now, international cricketers face a tough choice: stay loyal to their country or go for the big money.
“Who knows what international cricket will look like with all these franchise leagues? It needs to be looked at. The landscape is constantly changing. No one can honestly say they know what cricket will look like in even two years,” Ben Stokes told ESPNcricinfo.
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International cricket follows the Future Tour Programme (FTP) managed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Stokes believes players with central contracts should have a say in its design to avoid conflicts with T20 leagues happening at the same time.
“I think it would be nice to consult players like Jos (Buttler) and myself. The FTP could benefit from our input, and we could offer some good ideas,” he added.