On Tuesday, Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) invited Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA) President Lisa Sthalekar to pay a visit to Bangladesh. Sthalekar is the first woman to have held the job of FICA President, and her trip to Bangladesh was in response to the offer.
The former captain of Australia covered a variety of topics, including those pertaining to the function of FICA and where it stands in relation to franchise cricket and international cricket. The following are some extracts from a press conference that took place on the same day that she attended at a hotel in the city.
“It is not a very long tour. Conversations have been made possible as a result of it. I was beginning to get how the format of cricket is set up. Where you get your incredible skill. It is definitely a region that I am not familiar with, which is why I am trying to soak in as much information as I can on my trip. I am paying attention and making an effort to get a deeper comprehension of cricket in Bangladesh at all levels, from the most basic playing conditions to the most advanced competitions.
“The attitude of FICA is that we all recognize the advantages of Twenty20 cricket. We are aware that gamers have a limited time to optimize the amount of money they earn. Many of our players are having a great time competing in T20 leagues, ICC tournaments, and bilateral cricket matches. It has been brought to our attention that the men’s schedule is now fairly packed.
Because this is not a problem that can be handled immediately, we are pleading with the ICC and the national boards to collaborate on finding a solution. Without a doubt, the participants would be interested in playing a part in that, particularly in determining whether or not there is a path forward in which everyone can have their cake and eat it too.
“The challenge is not for FICA; rather, it is for the national boards who want to keep their players so that they can play for their country.” In an ideal world, we would want to see a robust rivalry taking place worldwide, in which nations are eager to pit their finest players against those of other nations. We are witnessing the establishment of a lot of leagues, which leads to conflicts with bilateral cricket.
The schedule for men is starting to look very packed. Currently, we are collaborating with the ICC. It is a pleasure for us to collaborate with the national boards. We represent a significant section of players that are always on the go all over the world. We want to make their choices less difficult so that they aren’t forced to pick just one option over another.
“At the end of the day, those who play in FICA are the ones in charge. We represent the opinions of all of the players. It is our responsibility to help them in any manner, shape, or form that we can. Whether they are now participating in the system or have done so in the past.
Players organisations devote a significant portion of their efforts to assisting retired players who are experiencing financial difficulties or who have health problems. I don’t believe that it has any bearing on us. Taking care of the players is still a priority for us. It is not really up to us to decide where they play. The schedule and the various competitions are not within our control.
The rules of the game are being altered at a breakneck speed. Obviously, these discussions have been going on behind closed doors for a considerable amount of time. We are getting closer and closer to the point when something will inevitably break. I am aware that the ICC is having conversations with many national boards. Additionally, we are communicating with the ICC. It is necessary for us to hold our breath and see how that develops.
“After that, I will be seeing Jahanara Alam and (Nigar Sultana) Joty. I messaged Jahanara. When I’m working as a commentator for International Cricket Council tournaments, I get to meet the players. It will be a pleasure to talk to them about their climb to prominence and inclusion in the ICC Women’s Championship when we are seated next to each other in her home nation. They will make a substantial leap ahead as a result of this.
“In an ideal world, we have observed throughout history that autonomous boards have been successful. But there is no such thing as a universal solution. The first step is to include the appropriate persons in the process. It is the most essential thing as long as there is openness and transparency, as well as a willingness to collaborate with one another.
Both the players’ association and the national boards are working toward the expansion of the game, which is ultimately their shared goal. It shouldn’t necessarily matter as long as you have the correct individuals participating in the process. You should strive to have independent boards wherever feasible, although this is not always achievable.
“For a very long time, people have been begging for the Women’s Premier League. It met with a great deal of success. There was a tremendous amount of hunger. The broadcast statistics were terrific, and the crowds who poured in were great. The fact that female gamers have the opportunity to earn a respectable wage from playing the game is a wonderful thing.
When I was still active in the game (I stopped playing professionally ten years ago), I was required to work full time. For a significant number of cricketers, this is no longer the case. Evidently, there is still a significant distance to travel. In an ideal world, we would want to see the women’s schedule include Twenty20 leagues, bilaterals, and ICC competitions all at the same time. This would free players from the obligation of choose between competing in one or the other.
There are a few things that we may pick up from the men’s calendar. We have to put a stop to this situation before it blossoms into a full-blown crisis.
“We want to make sure the players are taken care of. We would like it if the gamers could make enough money to support themselves. We want there to be more players. T20 franchises, the WPL in particular, are undoubtedly vital to this endeavor.
“The FICA is always willing to lend a helping hand and provide assistance to new players associations so that they can advance and grow.” This is a trip of some sort. In an ideal world, we would have some great player associations like the PCA, SACA, and ACA to thank for blazing the trail. They have demonstrated the usefulness of player relationships in their work.
They have demonstrated how they are able to have an effect not just on the participants, but also on the way the game is being handled. The CWAB has not yet reached that destination, which is one of the reasons I am now at this location. to get some more knowledge and to assist and support the organization as a whole.