Harry Brook’s biggest priority is playing for England and he wants to represent his country in as many matches as possible. This is why he has stayed away from franchise cricket leagues around the world, except for The Hundred in England. Speaking at the post-match presentation after being named Player of the Series for scoring 170 runs in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, Brook made it clear that playing for England remains his main focus.&nbsp;“I have said plenty of times I want to play as much cricket as I can for England. That’s my main priority, hence why I don’t play any franchise cricket, bar the Hundred. So yeah, that’s my main focus: trying to stay as fit and as ready as I possibly can for England,” Brook said.&nbsp;Brook, the only England captain to score a T20I century, has previously played a season each in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also entered the IPL 2025 auction and was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 crore, however, he withdrew before the season began and was subsequently handed a two-year suspension from the IPL.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-shafali-verma-century-india-bangladesh-semifinal-1789893890849">Asia Cup finalists India and Sri Lanka to fight for women’s Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;Brook was still eligible to enter the auction for the 2027 IPL season. However, his latest comments suggest that a return to the league may be unlikely.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-elavenil-valarivan-silver-women-10m-air-rifle-1789888255969">Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle</a><h3>Brook praises England teammates</h3>After England completed a one-sided win over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Old Trafford, Brook praised his teammates and singled out Sonny Baker, who was named Player of the Match after taking 2/17 in 3.5 overs.&nbsp;“I think everybody stepped up in this series, especially lads who haven’t played as much. Sonny, for example, bowling three overs in the powerplay in two games is an amazing achievement. To not go for the amount of runs that a lot of people do in the powerplay, while also taking wickets, is really impressive.&nbsp;“Daws (Liam Dawson) again, awesome performer, Jos (Buttler) again. I could go through that whole team, but yeah, we’re adapting to the conditions really well. Every game has been slightly different, and we’re playing the conditions extremely well,” he added.

Brook has featured for one season each in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League, but now limits his franchise cricket to the Men's Hundred.

Harry Brook’s biggest priority is playing for England and he wants to represent his country in as many matches as possible. This is why he has stayed away from franchise cricket leagues around the world, except for The Hundred in England. Speaking at the post-match presentation after being named Player of the Series for scoring 170 runs in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, Brook made it clear that playing for England remains his main focus. “I have said plenty of times I want to play as much cricket as I can for England. That’s my main priority, hence why I don’t play any franchise cricket, bar the Hundred. So yeah, that’s my main focus: trying to stay as fit and as ready as I possibly can for England,” Brook said. Brook, the only England captain to score a T20I century, has previously played a season each in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League. He also entered the IPL 2025 auction and was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 crore, however, he withdrew before the season began and was subsequently handed a two-year suspension from the IPL. Also Read - Asia Cup finalists India and Sri Lanka to fight for women’s Asian Games gold Brook was still eligible to enter the auction for the 2027 IPL season. However, his latest comments suggest that a return to the league may be unlikely. Also Read - Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle Brook praises England teammates After England completed a one-sided win over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Old Trafford, Brook praised his teammates and singled out Sonny Baker, who was named Player of the Match after taking 2/17 in 3.5 overs. “I think everybody stepped up in this series, especially lads who haven’t played as much. Sonny, for example, bowling three overs in the powerplay in two games is an amazing achievement. To not go for the amount of runs that a lot of people do in the powerplay, while also taking wickets, is really impressive. “Daws (Liam Dawson) again, awesome performer, Jos (Buttler) again. I could go through that whole team, but yeah, we’re adapting to the conditions really well. Every game has been slightly different, and we’re playing the conditions extremely well,” he added.

Brook has featured for one season each in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League, but now limits his franchise cricket to the Men's Hundred.

‘I want to…’: Harry Brook reveals reason for avoiding franchise cricket

SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith calls the cash-rich <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league?page=79" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League (IPL)</a> the leader of all franchise cricket worldwide. With countless T20-based leagues flooding the cricket calendar in the competition to stay ahead of each other, India&rsquo;s premier T20 tournament is head and shoulders ahead of everyone. However, Smith picked SA20 as the &lsquo;second-best&rsquo; franchise-based T20 league, ahead of the Big Bash and England's Vitality Blast.
He said with what the IPL has given to the cricket world since its inception in 2008, where Smith played for Rajasthan Royals &ndash; the inaugural winners, the newly-added SA20, which is into its third season, can only &lsquo;learn and improve&rsquo; with the IPL around.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jasprit-bumrahs-champions-trophy-2025-future-to-be-decided-in-next-24-hours-report-8699005" rel="dofollow">Bumrah&rsquo;s Champions Trophy 2025 future to be decided in next 24 hours &ndash; Report</a>
Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league&rsquo;s support in helping SA20 grow and improve.&nbsp;
"BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them," Graeme Smith said in an exclusive chat with PTI Bhasha.
Meanwhile, recently-retired India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik became the first from the country to play in the SA20 (this season), representing the Paarl Royals. His team, however, fell shy in the second qualifier, losing to the two-time champions, SunRisers Eastern Cape, in Centurion on Thursday (Feb 6).
Speaking on the prospects of more Indian players joining and playing the SA20, Smith expressed excitement to welcome those available.&nbsp;
"We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play," Smith said.
"If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time, I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them.
"I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;
<h2>IPL 2025 to begin on March 21</h2>
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will get underway from March 21, however, the final schedule is yet to be out. Kolkata Knight Riders won the last edition, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in a lop-sided final by eight wickets.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league’s support in helping SA20 grow and improve. 

SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith calls the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) the leader of all franchise cricket worldwide. With countless T20-based leagues flooding the cricket calendar in the competition to stay ahead of each other, India’s premier T20 tournament is head and shoulders ahead of everyone. However, Smith picked SA20 as the ‘second-best’ franchise-based T20 league, ahead of the Big Bash and England's Vitality Blast. He said with what the IPL has given to the cricket world since its inception in 2008, where Smith played for Rajasthan Royals – the inaugural winners, the newly-added SA20, which is into its third season, can only ‘learn and improve’ with the IPL around. Also read | Bumrah’s Champions Trophy 2025 future to be decided in next 24 hours – Report Calling the IPL the undisputed king of franchise cricket, Smith acknowledged BCCI and the league’s support in helping SA20 grow and improve. "BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them," Graeme Smith said in an exclusive chat with PTI Bhasha. Meanwhile, recently-retired India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik became the first from the country to play in the SA20 (this season), representing the Paarl Royals. His team, however, fell shy in the second qualifier, losing to the two-time champions, SunRisers Eastern Cape, in Centurion on Thursday (Feb 6). Speaking on the prospects of more Indian players joining and playing the SA20, Smith expressed excitement to welcome those available. "We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play," Smith said. "If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time, I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them. "I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008,” he continued. IPL 2025 to begin on March 21 The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League will get underway from March 21, however, the final schedule is yet to be out. Kolkata Knight Riders won the last edition, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in a lop-sided final by eight wickets. (With inputs from agencies)

Graeme Smith calls cash-rich IPL the leader of franchise cricket, picks ‘second-best’ league

The much-anticipated third season of the DP World ILT20 begins later today in the UAE. WION correspondent Vidur Kathuria caught up with Desert Vipers' Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, in Dubai, who shared insights on the team's preparations and weighed in on the franchise vs. international cricket debate. Listen in.

Tom Moody on desert vipers' prep & franchise cricket

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