With players choosing to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) over representing their respective countries in Test cricket, West Indies batting legend Brian Lara is urging the International Cricket Council to take the necessary steps to address the vexing issue.

Over the past decade or so several West Indies players have dropped their ambitions of representing the West Indies at Test cricket for the IPL where they have earned millions of dollars. In more recent times, South Africa has been facing similar challenges.

“Playing for the country should come first,” said Lara, who is the strategic advisor and batting coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

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Hypocritical statement from Lara when one considers he is in India, making money from his same IPL. Now I don't blame him for making a dollar because neither the CWI nor the Regional Boards have seen it fit to offer him a position. It took India and the IPL to give him the respect due to his talent and greatness.
The same applies to the players. They are treated better, with respect and paid well in the IPL. Some have become millionaires. Many of our players are recently married or are starting families. What comes first? That is the question all of the critics should answer first. Employees who are happy in their work environment and see a future and job security rarely move around.

In reply to bobby

Always the most interesting line of questioning that comes up when loyalty is questioned, because most on here would like to compare their career lives to those of the cricketers and see that you must show career mobility.

But its not the same, every one of these players that are doing well in the IPL/global t20 leagues owes their success to West Indies cricket, without the brand of west indies cricket and structure (as poor as it can be) none of these players would have an ounce of success. It ends up being a one way street for the board, invest in these players only to see their investments go elsewhere.

And then you think, Andy Roberts had to be a fisherman in retirement.

I dont know the answer, there is just not enough money in the region for a proper answer, somebody is going to loose, dont matter how many board changes we go through, this will always happen.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Some people blame BCL as being the pioneer with his retirement from International cricket in order to make himself available for the short-lived ICL.

Not me, I think BCL did the right thing by officially retiring and not holding the WICB hostage like his prodigies.

In reply to bobby

How is he a hypocrite, his statement maybe ironic but not hypocritical.

Honestly had Lara not retired when he did, he would have been top draw in the IPL.

The ICL was the worst thing to happen to him, prevented him from playing the IPL when he still had plenty of cricket left in him, also prevented him from playing at least a few T20Is , maybe a World Cup or two in that format.

I still wonder why he chose to retire and rush to ICL. Didn’t make sense then, doesn’t make sense now

Why doesn't Lara use his pull and try to lobby the ICC and IPL to agree on playing windows? Why doesn't Lara convince the ICC to change their fund distribution model so that players from non-Big 3 countries can earn enough where they can make the decision realistically on where to seek income from?

The Headline should be "Lara saddened that IPL was not around when he was in his prime"

In reply to WI_cricfan

I don’t think he would have ever skipped a West Indies game for the IPL

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

This is both contradicting and hypocritical at the same time. Lara is not smart.

Why is this still even an argument. Look how many cricketers and other sport personalities have given their all for their country or region and then become paupers after retirement. Playing cricket is a job. How many of us would give up earning a million USD in three months for a job that pays way less. I would leave my job right now and take up a job paying me a million USD for three months to do the same job I'm doing now. Who wouldn't?

Some of you can take Lara's comment as you wish. However, he served his time representing the WI until the WICB didn't want him anymore (go back and reflect on what happened for his sudden retirement).

Most of the international teams have some clause in their contract where country first, only WI allow their players to choose.

In reply to azadtnt

Problem with 'enforcement' is that players will simply retire from international duty. If ICC wants to collectively encourage players to represent their country in global tournaments (including Super League) then they should look into the revenue distribution model and the sporting calendar as a whole.

Lara saddened by the returns from SRH today with him at the helm