"IPL Changed Monopoly Of International Cricket On Players' Time": Pat Cummins

The IPL has ended the monopoly of international cricket on players' time, said Australia captain Pat Cummins, who feels going forward it will be a challenge to persuade players to prioritise national duty over franchise cricket.

The IPL has ended the monopoly of international cricket on players' time, said Australia captain Pat Cummins, who feels going forward it will be a challenge to persuade players to prioritise national duty over franchise cricket.

Cummins agrees that Trent Boult's decision to deny a New Zealand central contract for lucrative T20 league around the world has been in the offing since IPL changed the complexion of the game a decade ago.

"It's been coming for a while, but I think it is here now," Cummins was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the World Test Championship Final against India at The Oval starting June 7.

"International cricket doesn't have a monopoly on players' time, like it did in the past. The IPL changed that a decade ago, but there's just going to be more and more content that creeps in, so I think we've got to be proactive about that."

Cummins wants his teammates to consider national duty bigger than anything else but said that would be a challenge in these times of cash-rich franchise-based leagues.