Wasim Jaffer, the former Indian opener believed that there is nothing wrong in using IPL performances as a benchmark for selection to the Indian team. He also added that players should not be considered for selection in Test cricket based on their performances in the IPL which was introduced in 2008.
He spoke at length about his cricketing career and also emphasized upon the fact that performances in IPL are more important than domestic cricket to be considered for selection during an interview.
The batsman is currently the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy cricket besides having appeared in maximum matches in Ranji Trophy. He retired in March 2020 from all forms of cricket. He has so far featured in 2 ODIs and 31 Tests and the latter, he has scored 1944 runs averaging 34.10 with 5 centuries besides his name.
Wasim Jaffer: IPL Must Be Benchmark For Selection In Limited-Overs, Not Tests
The Kings XI Punjab batting coach was asked about his opinion regarding performances in the IPL being given more importance than the ones in domestic cricket. Wasim Jaffer responded that he had no problems on the issue considering the quality of international and national players that the youngsters play against in the IPL.
“I think there is nothing wrong with that. Probably because it is such a big stage for the younger players to get themselves noticed, because you are playing with the best and against the best and if you show your temperament and if you show your skill, have few good matches then suddenly you get noticed,” Wasim Jaffer said.
The 42-year-old Wasim Jaffer who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore way back in 2008/2009 also highlighted that players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya both of whom play for Mumbai Indians came into fame through their brilliant performances in the IPL for which they were selected in the Indian team.
“Players like Bumrah, Hardik Pandya to name a few, if they had not played IPL I am sure we wouldn’t have noticed them. That is the beauty of IPL that it gives the youngsters a platform to perform.”
Wasim Jaffer added on the same breadth that IPL performances should not be the benchmark for selection to the Indian Test squad as red-ball cricket is a different ball game altogether and should be restricted to only limited-overs white-ball cricket.
“But to pick a player in Test cricket because of his performances in the IPL, that is something which is wrong. I think if he performs well in the IPL, may be we can look at him in the white-ball format. But red-ball cricket is totally different skillset-wise and temperament-wise.”
Wasim Jaffer mentioned that he is fine with the idea that players want to play in the IPL as it gives them instant fame and recognition, unlike with Ranji Trophy cricket, apart from the financial benefits.
“So I feel there is nothing wrong if players want to play in the IPL, because first of all it gives you the monetary benefit and it gives you the stage to perform. If you have few good games, you can go to the next level straightaway. Whereas if you have 1000 runs in Ranji Trophy, there are hardly any people watching.”
A domestic player normally earns about 35,000 per day excluding daily allowances and if they perform well they earn about 25-30 lakh.
Wasim Jaffer on non-contracted Indian players:
Wasim Jaffer was also asked about his opinion about a lot of cricketers like Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan having asked the BCCI’s permission to allow non-contracted players to play the overseas T20 leagues.
The stylish right-handed batsman agreed with them as he favoured non-contracted Indian players being allowed to play in the foreign leagues.
Suresh Raina has called on the BCCI to allow Indian players without national contracts to play in overseas T20 leagues.https://t.co/SOCsDETSrE pic.twitter.com/zv4LitUqJI
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 11, 2020
“I think it makes sense to me. If you are not centrally-contracted player, then I think you should allow them. You can’t restrict each and every player.”
Wasim Jaffer said that there could probably be a restriction on the number of global overseas leagues a non-contracted player could participate in which could be the only solution.
“You can probably minimise to may be two leagues which they can pick and choose. But to not let any Indian player play any league other than the IPL, I think it is a little bit harsh in my opinion.”
There are calls from former players to play in overseas T20 leagues like in Canada or the West Indies but the BCCI has not yielded to the demands and has denied to permit non-contracted Indian players to play in overseas limited-overs leagues.
Among the Indian players, only Yuvraj Singh played in Global T20 league in Canada in 2019 after announcing retirement from every format.