India veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has interpreted that “financial liberation” would be the primary reason behind New Zealand pacer Trent Boult’s decision to snub his central contract. Ashwin advocated that Boult would be able to make far more money by competing in franchise-based T20 tournaments than representing New Zealand on the international scene.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin accentuated that if Boult had signed the contract, the New Zealand board would want him to play on a regular basis donning his national colors. This would prevent him from participating in many of the franchise-based leagues that are held across the world.
“Trent Boult’s IPL contract is worth ₹ 8.25 crore. If he doesn’t sign his central contract with New Zealand and plays IPL, CSA T20 league, and the UAE T20 league, he will make more money than what he will make by playing for New Zealand”, Ashwin stated.
“If he signs the contract, the board will ask him to play international cricket since he will be a contracted player. So, just for that professional and financial liberation, he is not signing the central contract” he added.
Talking further on his channel, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted that the expansion of T20 leagues across the world will definitely have an influence on the international cricketing schedule. He urged that these franchise-based events should be managed carefully so that they do not interfere with international cricket.
There have been a plethora of franchise-based T20 leagues that have come up in recent years.