Cummins and Head Reject Multi-Million Dollar T20 League Offers

SYDNEY: Australian national team captain Pat Cummins and prominent batter Travis Head have reportedly declined substantial offers, each valued at approximately USD 10 million, to leave international cricket. These offers would have seen them commit full-time to franchise-based T20 leagues.

Reports indicate that an informal proposition was made by a franchise group affiliated with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The aim was to attract the Australian pair to a global T20 network with teams located across India, the UAE, the United States, and the Caribbean.

As franchise cricket expands, IPL team owners are increasingly acquiring stakes in various leagues, including SA20, ILT20, Major League Cricket (MLC), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and The Hundred.

These leagues provide players with high-value contracts, often exceeding the compensation from their national cricket boards.

Reportedly, elite Australian cricketers under contract with Cricket Australia (CA) earn about AUD 1.5 million (roughly INR 8.7 crore) annually.

Cummins, in his role as the national captain, earns almost AUD 3 million (INR 17.5 crore). His IPL deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad adds around USD 3.7 million (INR 18 crore). Head, also with Sunrisers Hyderabad, makes about USD 1.2 million (INR 14 crore).

Despite the financial incentives, both Cummins and Head have reaffirmed their commitment to representing Australia in all formats of the game.

Head has stated firmly that he does not intend to abandon international cricket, despite the lucrative opportunities presented by franchise leagues.

Head’s Perspective on Franchise Cricket

In a recent interview, Travis Head discussed his decision to participate in Major League Cricket (MLC) to gain first-hand experience with franchise cricket.

He explained that he wanted to understand the demands of playing in back-to-back tournaments like the IPL, the World Cup, and MLC. He viewed it as a chance to experience four continuous months of franchise cricket and to learn about different operational systems.

Quote from Travis Head:

“I participated in MLC to get an understanding of franchise cricket. Following the IPL and a World Cup, I went into MLC. I wanted to see what it was like to play four months of franchise cricket. You want to explore every available option, experience different things, and understand how things are managed,” Head stated.

“Many players worldwide are making decisions about their careers, and this was an ideal moment for me to understand the landscape and consider what I might do in the future. I wanted to assess whether I could handle it, whether I enjoyed it, and whether I was successful at it. I hadn’t played much T20 cricket recently, so it was also about re-engaging with that format,” he added.

The 31-year-old batter emphasized that, while the experience was beneficial, his main priority remains playing for his country.

“It was the right time in my career to do it, but that time has passed. My focus is now on playing for Australia, and I don’t foresee any scenario where I can pursue other commitments,” he concluded.