There is no denying that ODI cricket is under threat. This was also openly acknowledged by the South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who made it clear that there’s nothing much he can do when the T20 franchise leagues are attracting players with lucrative contracts.
2023 saw three new T20 leagues – in South Africa, in the UAE, and in the USA – conducting their inaugural season.
On the eve of South Africa’s first match in the World Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka in Delhi, Temba Bavuma spoke extensively on the ODI format, and how and why it’s getting less and less relevant due to T20 leagues.
“I think it can be a tricky or challenging one. I don’t know if it’s my job as the captain to inspire the guys to play ODI cricket but I think my biggest thing is that when the guys have that opportunity to play for the country, they give it their all. It’s becoming tougher and tougher for I guess guys to overlook the opportunity of the lucrativeness of playing in franchise T20 leagues. And that’s just the real thing. I think organisations around the countries, at least for cricket South Africa, what I know, are trying to get ahead of that trend,” Bavuma said in Delhi on Friday.
Maybe that trend is already gone: Temba Bavuma
The trend of South African players taking retirements from international cricket much before their age continues as the likes of Dwaine Pretorious (from all international cricket) and Quinton de Kock (from Test and ODI) bid adieu. De Kock has announced that he will retire from ODIs after this World Cup.
The Protea skipper, however, attested that whoever is playing for his team will be giving their best, no matter whatever interest from outside.
“Maybe that trend is already gone, but they are trying to accommodate those individuals who have those opportunities of plying their trades outside of just playing for South Africa. But yeah, I think for me, it’s when you’re within the team and you have that opportunity to wear that patch, that you do it with honour, you do it with pride, and you don’t take anything for granted,” Bavuma added.
