In a recent discussion, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag revealed why he turned down a USD 100,000 deal from the Big Bash League.
Due to the BCCI’s restrictions, none of the current or former star Indian cricketers have featured in any of the T20 leagues other than the Indian Premier League.
In a recent podcast, Sehwag revealed the reason he rejected the offer from Big Bash – a domestic T20 league organised by Australia.
Sehwag was responding to a query from Australia legend Adam Gilchrist on whether there’s a future where Indian players could start featuring in overseas leagues in addition to IPL.
However, Sehwag rejected the possibility claiming the amount he offered to play in BBL was nearly the same that he spends on his holidays.
Adam Gilchrist: “Do you see a time where Indian players will ever be able to go & play other T20 leagues?” (Club Prairie fire YT).
Virender Sehwag replied – “No, Don’t need, we are rich people, we don’t go to poor countries for other leagues”.
Sehwag then shared his own story when he turned down a big BBL contract.
“I still remember when I was dropped from Indian team, I was playing IPL, then I got offer from BBL that I should participate in Big Bash, I said okey how much money, they said $100,000. I said I can spend that money in my holidays, even last night bill was more than $100,000”. (Club Prairie fire YT).
“Going out for one month playing Big bash or The Hundred, where you get only that $100,000, maybe $200,000. If you talk about millions, yes then I’m interested otherwise no,” he added.
Sehwag went on to reveal the offer he received from Sky Sports to be one of their panel members.
“So once I got a call from Sky Sports that ‘We’ll love to have you in in our panel.’ I said ‘You can’t afford me’. But they said, ‘No, give me your price’.
I said ‘You can’t afford me but they said ‘Please give us the price’. Then I said okay ‘£10,000 a day’ and they said, ‘Yes you’re right we can’t’”.
