'We don’t go to poor countries’ – Sehwag's bizarre remark on Indians not playing in leagues outside of IPL

Former Indian cricketer and batting great Virender Sehwag made a bizarre remarkon why Indian cricketers don’t play in franchise-based T20 Leagues worldwide outside of IPL. Although it’s mainly because of the clause in players’ central contract with BCCI that restricts them from playing in leagues besides the country’s own Indian Premier League, Sehwag said it’s because Indian cricketers are rich and hence don’t go to other countries to play in their leagues which are not as lucrative.

Speaking on the Club Prairie Fire podcast on YouTube, Sehwag, while replying to Adam Gilchrist’s query on whether Indian cricketers will play in leagues outside of the IPL anytime sooner, said in jest, “No! Why? No need. We are rich people; we don’t go to poor countries.”

Sehwag being Sehwag did not stop there, and continued by quoting an example, saying when he was out of the Indian Team, the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia offered him a chance to play in their league, but he refused the offer. The attacking opener revealed the amount (around $100,000) he was offered was too less and that he spent that much money on his holidays.

Sehwag went one step ahead, adding he once spent $100,000 on a dinner.

“I still remember that when I retired from the Indian team, not retired but dropped and was playing IPL, I received an offer to participate in Big Bash. I said okay, how much money are you offering? They said some $100,000. I replied I spend that much money on my holidays,” Sehwag said.

Continuing on the same lines, Sehwag said that he would have played had those leagues offered him millions instead of what was presented. The former Indian opener said,“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.”

Sehwag didn’t stop there, quoting another example of what happened when Sky Sports (in England) offered him a chance to join their panel, only for the broadcaster to back out after hearing Sehwag’s remuneration.

“So once, I got a call from Sky Sports that ‘We’ll love to have you 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,” Sehwag said.