International League T20

Yeah.

If you're, let's say if you're a Shafaque Babaford or a Hetmyer, you've already got your deal signed up for South Africa or whatever, ILT20.

It's not like you can just rip it up and say, "Oh, yeah, cool, I'm gonna play for West Indies" with, like, three and four months notice.

It's madness to do that.

The cricket's excellent, but I do, can't help but find interest and sadness, m- often mainly interest, in just little tidbits.

ILT20 auction, um, happened this week.

Um, and Desert Vipers are the only American-owned team.

And they've got a load of Pakistani players at base price.

Mm.

Would I be right in thinking that [clears throat] if privatization didn't happen, at some point Australian players would have to sign their allegiance to the BBL ahead of chasing more money elsewhere? So that is to say that if India invested more heavily in the SA20 or the ILT20, which are on broadly the same time as the Big Bash, or they started handing out exclusive contracts, so p- uh, players that just play for, let's call them M-Mumbai Indians, they just play for that franchise around the world exclusively, which they have mooted before.

I remember Jofra, for instance, was, was mooted in having that.

Um, Cameron Green might have, um, had a suggestion of that as well.

That's what we would be asking players to do if privatization did not come in.

Am I right in thinking that?

Yeah, I think that one of the things that's becoming more and more challenging is that the, the IPL teams, SA20, um, ILT20, they can offer a significant contract to our players, uh, without the level of commitment, um, that they would have staying with us.

So i-it's becoming more and more competitive.

St. Lucia is green, lush, fast, bouncy track.

I don't expect the guys that are not going to the ILT20 or Big Bash, SA20, that kind of stuff, to be in a camp in St. Lucia for at least three to four weeks before departure, given that the West Indies doesn't have anything after this, potentially even a camp before Christmas as well because that's what's stopping them from preparing start preparations early so no I think it's good now that those dates and locations have been released and it's only to the benefit of what Cindy's now to prepare properly based on that and understand what players are necessary for those conditions

Yeah, and I think that the comment in terms of the change in terms of the tactical approach with Gudikash Moti opening the bowling and the changes is that it gives the side that different dimension that they've worked towards.

Because we know the importance of these qualifiers.

So, uh, we're very excited to, to get the season started and get working with these players.

I guess the headlines are the Pakistan contingent, particularly Babar Azam, who's gonna be making his, uh, first appearance in the DP World ILT20.

Plus, you've managed to bring back three old faces for the Vipers, continuing what you're saying there about continuity.

Yeah, look, obviously Babar's a terrific addition.

That goes out October 22nd.

Uh, and then hopefully go to, to ILT20.

That'll be the, that, the, the plan if, if picked up in the auction.

So we'll see what happens there.

It is funny though, you kinda think back to Eng- England and the ECB p- in particular did a lot to, you know, full mark Wood in terms of getting him right, in terms of giving him security.

Um, inexplicably being, um, you know, strong-armed into a three-year deal, um, after he signed that, um, ILT20 gig which, you know, he won't mind us saying, he is someone who travels terribly.

Like, you know, he-

[laughs]