Srinath and Samba are joined by Singapore Cricket ex-Vice Captain Arjun Mutreja for an interview where they touch on a variety of topics going behind the curtain on how Associate cricket works, funding from ICC, rankings and whole host of fun topics! Enjoy this episode.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Announcement

05:08 The Journey of Singapore Cricket

08:29 Highs and Lows of Being an Associate Nation

18:27 Tim David's Journey and Impact

26:42 Talented Players in Associate Nations

29:22 The Potential of Unrecognized Players

31:15 Uncovering the Stories of Talented but Unrecognized Players

34:52 The Role of Grassroots Development in Nurturing Talent

38:54 The Importance of Viewership and Sponsorship in Cricket

46:30 The Significance of T20 and 50-Over Cricket in Player Development

49:34 Balancing Short-Term Goals with Long-Term Sustainability

In this episode, Srinath and Samba discuss the evolution of cricket and the need for a dedicated window for test cricket and franchise leagues like the IPL. They explore the challenges faced by players in balancing international and league cricket commitments and the financial incentives that drive players towards franchise leagues. They also discuss the importance of creating a commercial model and a framework to support test cricket and make it more appealing to audiences. They suggest the idea of a franchise-based test tournament and the need for collaboration among cricket boards to ensure the survival of test cricket.

00:00 Introduction and the Theme of the Podcast

01:31 The Need for a Dedicated Window for Test Cricket and Franchise Leagues

04:22 Making Test Cricket More Appealing

06:45 The Financial Incentives of Franchise Leagues

10:30 Creating a Commercial Model and Framework for Test Cricket

19:54 The Idea of a Franchise-Based Test Tournament

23:34 Collaboration Among Cricket Boards for the Survival of Test Cricket

25:02 Closing Remarks and Future Episodes

In Part 2 of the episode recorded after India beat South Africa in the T20 WC finals, Samba and Srinath rejoiced in the win by talking about Bumrah's GOAT-level bowling and the post-win madness parade in Mumbai!