Clive Lloyd: These guys now know what they are worth

IPL has amped up the entertainment quotient in cricket in addition to unearthing some hidden gems for India and other nations it has also been criticised by many for luring players away from their national duties with lucrative deals. But legendary West Indies captain Clive Lloyd feels that modern-day cricketers deserve such money.

Speaking to RevSportz, Clive said –

“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?”

Using the example of NBA stars and footballers, he stated – “When Michael Jordan and all these footballers were earning millions per month, nobody said anything about it. Why cricket should be different?” But Clive also feels that players should also put their country ahead of franchise cricket and money shouldn’t prevent them from doing so.

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Clive Lloyd further said –

“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.”

Clive further added – “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.”