Hodge's Loss is Yousuf's Gain

Or is it?

Lancashire have lost Brad Hodge for 5 weeks to the Kolkata Knight Riders. But they have managed to procure the services of Mohammad Yousuf for that period since he's not eligible to play in the Indian Premier League.

Till only last year cricketers used to jump at the opportunity to play country cricket, not only for excercising their sport during the off season but also for those extra dollars, or rather pounds to be economically correct.

Today, however, with the emergence of the IPL and top notch dollars associated with it, playing county cricket has become the 2nd best option.

Would Yousuf have been available for Lancashire had one of the francises roped him in? Obviously not.

Hodge is going to miss 5 weeks to play in the IPL. David Hussey is already missing the county season. Shane Warne announced his retirement from county cricket despite being under contract to Hampshire for another year or two.

Moreover, this doesn't apply to international players alone. England and Hampshire's own Dmitri Mascharenas has joined the Rajhastan Royals for 5 weeks giving his home county season a break.

ECB better hurry with that EPL or they may lose a lot more as I hear that next year's IPL is scheduled around the same time. Plus Peiterson and some others are itching to play for some Indian teams.

Well, at the end I guess Mohammad Yousuf will be happy to be playing a form of the game he's good at. But he'll still be rueing his chances of making those dollars in hundreds of thousands.

What Does the Future Look Like?

The History:

• The English create 20-20 cricket to bring the crowds back to domestic games.
  
• Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka adopt the game soon after.
  
• In 2004 England holds a 6 team tournament comprising 20-20 domestic champions from Pakistan, SL, SA, and England.

(This was the first sign of 20-20 becoming something on the lines of the football leagues. All those who have apprehensions on 20-20 taking over cricket, should have realised it back then)

• Allen Stanford sees potential to lift the domestic game in the Windies through 20-20 and launches the Stanford series.

The Present:

• Subhash Chandra loses out on a TV contract from the BCCI unfairly and in retaliation launches the ICL.
  
• BCCI in retaliation launches the IPL.
  
• ECB in order to safeguard its players announce plans for an EPL.
  
• Allen Stanford provides his support to the EPL.

The Future:

• On the back of the success of Lahore Badshahs in the ICL, PCB announces the PPL.
  
• In fear of losing domestic cricketers, retired cricketers, coaches, trainers, assistant coaches to the IPL and the ICL, CA launches the APL.
  
• South Africa have to do what Australia does and the SAPL is launched.
  
• New Zealand hop on board the APL and it is revamped as the TTPL.
  
• Sri Lanka faces a threat from the IPL and PPL and announce the SLPL.
  
• Bangladesh join forces with the PPL because international stars are unwilling to play in Pakistan or Bangladesh.
  
• Allen Stanford lends a helping hand to all the cash strapped leagues, i.e. all those except the ICL, IPL, and TTPL.

The Result:

• The cricket world in 2010 is comprised of various leagues around the globe including the Stanford WIPL, ICL, IPL, Stanford EPL, Stanford PPL, TTPL, Stanford SLPL, and the Stanford SAPL.
  
• Major bidding wars for the best cricketers result in unprecedented salary packages for the players.
  
• End of season "The Allen Stanford Grand Championship" involving the champions of the 8 leagues is launched at Lords for a prize money of USD 1 billion.
  
• ODI cricket has officially become extinct.
  
• Exchange tours between countries involves only test cricket.
  
• Allen Stanford acquires the ICC.
  
• The FTP is developed for the Whatever PLs and the Grand Championship.

Bright? Dull? Frightening? Crazy? Good? Bad? What does the future look like?