'You cannot stop them from doing that' - Clive Lloyd voices support to players' participation in franchise leagues

Clive Lloyd is one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game. He is also considered one of the most influential captains of all time. He led the West Indies to two consecutive World Cup triumphs in the years 1975 and 1979.

There has been a long-standing debate regarding how much importance should players give to the franchise leagues. With a new league popping up every now and then, players have a lot of options to get a lucrative contract instead of waiting for a national call-up.

It is an arduous task, to get into the first XI of a country. However, the franchise leagues ease out the competition as players who are not considered for selection in their national teams, can make a good living out of playing franchise leagues. The main issue with franchise leagues has been that after players obtain lucrative deals there, their willingness to play for the country arguably reduces.

Lloyd opened up on the conundrum while speaking to Revsportz on the show ‘Backstage With Boria’ to commemorate the 40th anniversary of India's 1983 World Cup win.

"I think we went to Kerry Packer because we did not know our worth. These guys now know what they are worth. But I think that if IPL is such an important part of their lives, just give them a window so that they can play IPL.

"Yes, a window would be excellent, I think, because they are earning a good living. And do not forget, you are giving your best part, the best days of your life to this sport. So why not be paid for it? When Michael Jordan and all these footballers were earning millions per month, nobody said anything about it. Why cricket should be different?” the West Indies legend added.

Players should not participate in franchise leagues to the detriment of playing for their country: Clive Lloyd

West Indies have lost many players to franchise leagues. T20 superstars like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell seldom play for the two-time T20 World Cup champions these days as they are busy playing in leagues around the world. Lloyd believes that players can't be barred from playing these leagues but they should keep in mind that their absence doesn't cause too much harm to the nation.

"You cannot stop them from doing that. It gives them a good future. But the point is that they should not do this to the detriment of playing for their country or their nation. And we suffer because we are only five and a half million people. So if we groom twenty players and lose ten, it is like digging a hole to fill a hole. And I do not want that.

"I want our best players to play and I want them to play to their optimum. So, we must have a situation where players must want to play for their country."