South African cricketer Faf du Plessis feels that the growing power of T20 Leagues around the world could become a threat to international cricket in the future.
Speaking during a virtual media interaction ahead of the resumption of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 6, the 36-year-old - who will represent Peshawar Zalmi - has called for balance between franchise cricket and international cricket.
"T20 leagues are a threat for international cricket. The power of the leagues are growing year by year and obviously, in the beginning, there might be just two leagues around the world and now it's becoming 4,5, 6,7 leagues in a year. The leagues are just getting stronger," said du Plessis.
"I think it's important that in future you try and see how it's possible both can co-exist because [if] it becomes a choice moving forward into the future then it can be a real threat for the international game,” he added.
Furthermore, Faf du Plessis foresees cricket on a similar level to football in 10 years, where domestic leagues are played between international events.
Du Plessis reckons many current players could become freelance cricketers, giving precedence to T20 cricket over international cricket. He also cited West Indies players like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo as examples.
"If I take someone like myself you go and play 2 or 3 or 4 leagues around the world but I can't predict the future. There are more and more players…[who want to play in T20 Leagues].”
"West Indies probably is the first team that started doing it. All of their guys moved away from the international team to the T20 domestic circuit. So the West Indian team lost a lot of their key players. It's starting to happen with South Africa also," du Plessis said.
Featured photo: AFP / Asif Hassan
