Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara believes that partnering with national cricket boards and private investors could help smaller nations compete at the highest level. Speaking at the World Cricket Connects event at Lord’s, hosted by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Sangakkara highlighted the need for sustainable financial support to ensure the future success of cricket.
At the World Cricket Connects event at Lord’s, Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara emphasized the need for private investment to help smaller cricketing nations succeed. Highlighting financial sustainability and growth, Sangakkara called for partnerships with national cricket boards to ensure a thriving future for the sport.
The event brought together leading voices in cricket, including players, coaches, broadcasters, franchise owners, and administrators, to discuss the health of the game and its future direction. Key topics included the growth of cricket, financial distribution, and the global cricket calendar.
Sangakkara emphasized the financial challenges faced by Sri Lanka and other smaller cricketing nations. He explained, “It’s about money. Sri Lanka needs money to invest in the game. How that money comes about, is it going to be ICC handouts, is it going to be the franchise game? How do you become self-sustainable? How do you do it if the market is so small or not as attractive?”
He pointed out that while Sri Lankan players have opportunities to earn a living through the franchise landscape, the country’s cricket future depends on the sustainability of bilateral cricket and potential private investment. “Will private investment partner the home boards to ensure they are not just skimming the cream off the top but also investing in the grassroots and growing the game? It is incumbent to build the home game and the audience of those products and the consumer base for those products,” Sangakkara added.
Since retiring in 2017, after nearly 600 appearances for Sri Lanka, Sangakkara has worked as the coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. This role has given him unique insights into the sport’s future and the potential benefits of greater outside influence. He stated, “We need newer ideas, new perspectives, outside perspectives coming in to enhance the thinking in cricket and grow it as we know it can.”
Sangakkara’s vision for cricket’s future involves a collaborative approach where multiple stakeholders, including private investors, broadcasters, and modern administrators, work together to sustain and grow the sport globally.
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