IPL 2018: Sam Billings unhappy with 'slave market' analogy made by renowned journalist

The IPL 2018 auctions brought good news for a few and was a heartbreak for the others. Some of the biggest stars of the game went unsold and at the same time, young colts bagged whopping amounts. English cricketer Sam Billings could have been in the unwanted list of unsold players too. However, the hard-hitting batsmen found a taker in the final hours of the IPL auctions this year.

In the final round of the auctions, the Chennai Super Kings bagged the services of Sam Billings for his base price. Certainly, it was a cheat deal for the CSK franchise. CSK formed a very decent squad with their resources. However, the buy did not impress a lot of people. One of the renowned journalists looked upset at the fact that Billings chose IPL over playing in the English domestic season.

His remarks had come following the fact that Billings was recently named as the captain of the Kent side. The journalist took an indirect dig at Billings citing that he was bought in the IPL auctions from the ‘slave market’, or the leftover players.

“I see Sam Billings has been picked up in the slave market. Obviously good reasons for going but makes you wonder why Kent wanted him to be captain or he accepted,” the journalist had tweeted.

Sam Billings comes up with a response

Unhappy with the comparison and the analogy made, Sam Billings was quick to tweet back to the journalist. He advised him to have a more parliamentary discussion on it without using such abrupt and absurd comparisons.

“Be happy to chat through the situation in depth David, however using that analogy of the ipl is questionable to say the least! Hope all is well,” Sam Billings wrote in his tweet.

Be happy to chat through the situation in depth David, however using that analogy of the ipl is questionable to say the least! Hope all is well.

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) January 29, 2018

The journalist, too, was quick to realise that he perhaps went a little overboard whilst criticizing the choices made by Billings. He, however, added that as a captain of a team, Billings should be present for the entire domestic season. If not, he should not have accepted the captaincy at the first place.

“Yes the throwaway slave market analogy was a misjudgment & it will probably be replayed endlessly. But I do find the auction distasteful. As for the other, as a general principle I simply believe captains must be 100pc present. Nevertheless, naturally I wish you well,” the journalist responded again to Billings’ tweet.

Yes the throwaway slave market analogy was a misjudgment & it will probably be replayed endlessly. But I do find the auction distasteful. As for the other, as a general principle I simply believe captains must be 100pc present. Nevertheless, naturally I wish you well.

— David Hopps (@DavidKHopps) January 29, 2018

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