Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @GidneyDaniel
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated its players to participate in domestic cricket, a move applauded by Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney.
Gidney, however, criticised English players’ agents for pushing them towards lucrative franchise leagues, expressing concerns that this shift could undermine the traditional red-ball format and threaten the future of the English County Championship.
Gidney pointed out that the BCCI’s directive does not apply to senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. However, it requires other players to take part in domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy when not on national duty, emphasizing the board’s commitment to domestic cricket.
Two younger players, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, lost their annual BCCI retainership contracts for prioritising the IPL over domestic competitions. While Kishan declined to play in any Ranji matches despite multiple requests, Iyer participated in the knockout stages, including the final. The BCCI’s stance on this issue has received support from figures like Gidney.
“Imagine a governing body BCCI actually saying that out loud … That was fantastic prioritising,” Gidney was quoted as saying.
He stressed that player agents are the biggest threat to the future of the English County Championship, accusing them of neglecting the county game.
Gidney called for more open dialogue on the issue, noting that while coaches and administrators often face criticism, agents should be held accountable. Speaking during a match between Lancashire and Somerset at Old Trafford, he voiced his concerns.
He added, “I believe the game as a whole needs to unite to find a way to support the Championship. England players aren’t required to participate in it, and agents show no concern for it.” Gidney also suggested that increasing player remuneration could be a solution to protect the Championship’s future.
Gidney suggested increasing prize money and offering significantly higher salaries to four or five key players. Instead of the current top domestic salary of around £80,000-90,000, he proposed finding a way to pay players up to £200,000, with the condition that they refrain from participating in franchise cricket.
He advocated for restricting players’ involvement in franchise leagues to protect first-class cricket, though he clarified that he does not oppose players earning well from T20 leagues. “They have careers – I’m not begrudging their ability to make money – but the balance has shifted too far,” Gidney explained.
Gidney also pointed out the income gap between The Hundred and the County Championship. He questioned who would turn down more money for less work, noting that even rookie players in The Hundred earn significantly more than those in the Championship.
Earlier this year, BCCI secretary Jay Shah urged all centrally-contracted Indian players to participate in domestic competitions, warning that failure to do so could lead to serious consequences.
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