Former South Africa batter Heinrich Klaasen, who stepped away from international cricket to focus on franchise leagues, believes T20 cricket should be viewed almost as a separate sport. He argues that professional leagues can flourish and help globalise the game, much like football.
T20 as a Separate Sport
Klaasen told TOI that cricketers are moving towards a phase where they can build careers like professional footballers. However, he acknowledges that purists and custodians of the game, especially in India, England, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, are not ready for a future where international cricket is reduced and leagues take centre stage. "I think cricket wants to go the football way. But cricket purists will never let that happen. They will want Test cricket to stay. With strong bodies like the BCCI and ICC, the decision to just play T20 cricket around the world and allow international cricket for only two months of the year will never happen," Klaasen said.
Career Choices and Financial Realities
Klaasen highlighted the difficulties players face in breaking into international teams and the financial incentives of franchise cricket. "Sometimes it’s difficult to get into an international team, or it doesn’t pay as well. It’s obviously a business and you want to look after your family and your life, and you have only got a certain amount of time to do it in. So, it’s definitely heading that way for cricketers," he added.
T20 as the Future
Klaasen emphasised that T20 cricket is the format that will shape the sport's future. "It’s probably the format that’s going to stay the longest from now on. The other formats will either slow down a little bit or be limited. The game of cricket evolves and I think T20 cricket has forced other formats to be played differently as well. If you want to grow the game of cricket, it’s definitely the format to do it with," he said.
Evolution of Coaching
With T20 cricket changing the dynamics of the sport, Klaasen noted that coaching manuals have evolved. "If you look at coaches around the world, that’s exactly how they coach. They know players have different mindsets than they did six years ago. As a coach, if you want to be successful and have a job for a very long time, your mindset definitely has to change. They still give their old-school advice and make sure that the brains of cricket are still there, and that it is not just a slogfest. The balance is great at this moment, especially with the coaches I’ve been working with," he concluded.
