Hmmm! Which country should I play for?

By CAM

Playing for one’s own country is possibly the proudest accomplishments in a young cricketer’s life. After all the great things that Sachin Tendulkar has accomplished in cricket, he will still tell you that there is no feeling that is greater than playing and winning a match for your country. Getting the first call to be on the ODI or Test team is in most cases a dream come true. Ask the likes of Saurabh Tiwary or Josh Hazlewood as to what it feels like when you find out that you are on the team.

There is a change taking place in the world of cricket. Not that this is anything new, but we are seeing more and more of it today. I am referring to the fact that national boundaries are blurring. As a cricketer, if I see my hopes of being selected in the national side dimming, I may simply decide to move to another country where my chances are better. Or in certain cases playing for the ‘other’ nation is more prestigious than playing for your own country. How can this be?

Take the case of Eoin Morgan or Dirk Nannes or Brendon Nash or …

Better still, look at some of the minnow teams such as Canada and Netherlands. They seem to have consciously imported players from cricketing nations to make up a team with some semblance of competitiveness. What if I am Dutch and dream about playing for my country? Tough luck friend, you just lost your spot to a Pakistani!! In this scenario, if Pakistan is playing the Netherlands, will the loyalty of the cricketer truly be with his adopted team/country? Or will he deep down inside wish for Pakistan’s success?

On a slightly different note, take a look at team USA. Not sure if there is even one ‘American’ on the team. The entire team it seems is made up of Sub-Continental and West Indian players. Quite amazing! At least, in this case, there may not be a whole lot of young Americans dreaming about playing cricket for their country. If, as a computer engineer, I can take the job that rightfully is the American’s, I don’t see anything wrong in taking the American’s spot on the cricket team either. The president of the USCA has a goal: The US team plays in the 2015 World Cup. Want to play in a World Cup? Now, here is your chance. Just move to the US and begin practicing! Hilarious!!

During the recently concluded ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies, there was a contingent of Pakistani fans from the UK cheering for Pakistan who lost to Australia in the semi-finals. Had Pakistan made the finals and faced England, these fans would have cheered for Pakistan not England. Let us not forget, any of them could have been an Owais Shah or a Saqlain Mushtaq. A dichotomy or sorts one might say.

Playing for a national side is matter of pride and honor and should never be treated in the same manner as professional cricket. Be it the IPL or English Country Cricket, players are drafted for their skills and paid money to play cricket for the side. A player may move from one team to the next based on contractual situations and money being offered. Are we seeing some of this happening with players and national teams?

I don’t believe I am alone in thinking that a cricketer must be English to play for England and Canadian to play for Canada. When it comes to any of the Sub-Continental teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, one can be rest assured that there will not be any trans-border drafting of players into the national side. How can we ignore young aspiring talent within our borders and draft a foreigner into the national team? Does this make sense? And, should this even be allowed?