Sri Lanka’s former cricket captain and head coach Marvan Atapattu says that for many Sri Lankan players today, international cricket has become merely a platform to enter franchise leagues, with money replacing the pride of wearing the national jersey.
He further alleges that the Sri Lanka cap was once the ultimate destination, but now risks becoming only a stepping stone.
Writing exclusively in the Sunday Times newspaper under the theme “Cricket Does Not Reward Impatience,” Atapattu said Sri Lanka must openly discuss the impact of franchise cricket.
He noted that franchise cricket has transformed the global game and offers financial opportunities that players cannot ignore.
“I do not blame cricketers for seeking financial security; a playing career is short and uncertain,” he wrote.
“But we must be honest about the consequences. For many players today, international cricket has become merely a platform to enter franchise leagues. Money has replaced the pride of wearing the national jersey. The Sri Lanka cap was once the destination; now it risks becoming a stepping stone.
“I think when financial success arrives before technical maturity, priorities shift. Players focus more on survival in franchise environments rather than long-term skill development. Discipline weakens, preparation changes, and technical flaws remain uncorrected because short-format success can temporarily conceal them.”
Atapattu questioned how Sri Lanka can strike the right balance.
“Unlike India, we cannot impose strict restrictions on players because our financial ecosystem is different. Nor can we ban participation in foreign leagues without damaging our own competition, the **Lanka Premier League**. However, pretending franchise cricket has no influence would be dishonest. National cricket must remain the pinnacle. If representing Sri Lanka becomes secondary to franchise opportunities, our decline will accelerate.”
The former opening great also reflected on the pride his generation felt in representing the country.
“I sometimes wonder whether the cricketers of today take as much pride in wearing the national jersey as we did. For us, representing Sri Lanka came with immense responsibility a responsibility to over 20 million people of this beautiful island.
“Under Arjuna Ranatunga, discipline was non-negotiable. Friendships stopped once we crossed the boundary line. You earned your place every single day, regardless of reputation. Today, I sometimes sense a level of comfort among players, regardless of their performances. When poor performances do not carry consequences, standards inevitably fall. Accountability must be enforced at all levels, including inside the dressing room.”
