There are 2 ideologies in the cricketing world when it comes to T20 franchise leagues and tournaments. Some people are of the opinion that it is a proper feeder system for international cricket and players get several opportunities to come into the selectors radar, some people are of the opinion that they only are a money-making phenomenon.
South African wrist-spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, falls in the 1st category in this ideology. He feels that domestic T20 leagues should be promoted as it prepares players for international cricket.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, after South Africa’s 5-wicket win against India on 12th December 2023, Shamsi highlighted the importance of these T20 leagues.
“When the leagues first started, they were seen in a bad light in the sense that it was all about players wanting to earn money. But when you play in different leagues, you pick up little bits of golden nuggets,” Shamsi said. “We are so used to doing things a certain way in South Africa, as are other countries, so you pick up bits and pieces of what other other people do slightly differently and you try that for yourself. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t and you improve as a player. Guys go and get more experience, and it gives other players and it widens the pool,” said Shamsi to ESPNCricinfo.
Speaking about the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shamsi stressed on how the Indian players have been accustomed to playing in front of large crowds after plying their trade for several franchises in the IPL.
“Over the years, we’ve seen what the IPL has done for Indian players and Indian youngsters in particular. When they come to the international scene they have already played in front of huge crowds, they have had their disappointments and bad games in front of huge crowds, so they have learned how to deal with that, and they’ve had success in front of good crowds so they know how to deal with that too,” he said. “When they come to international cricket, it’s just business as usual,” said Tabraiz Shamsi.
Shamsi was a byproduct of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
A vivid example of how Tabraiz Shamsi rose through the ladder, was his exemplary performance with the white-cherry in the Caribbean Premier League 2015, when he was playing for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
He had bagged 11 wickets in 7 matches in that tournament and had earned a place in South Africa’s ODI squad.
“As a youngster playing in the CPL before I made my debut for the Proteas in West Indies helped me feel so relaxed because I had been in those stadiums and I had done well on those pitches. So when I eventually did play for South Africa, I felt at home,” he said.
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