The sparse crowds at the Champions League Twenty20 was not a strange phenomena since cricket lovers are not expected to come out in support of foreign teams, vying against each other in the tournament, Chennai Super Kings Coach Stephen Fleming said today.
"It is a difficult task for neutral teams, playing anywhere around the world, to get a decent crowd and build up intensity in the tournament. Expecting this, you are asking the Indian fans much to come and support the neutral teams, other than Indian franchise teams," he told reporters on the eve of Chennai's face off against Dolphins here tomorrow.
Flemings said for the non-Indian players, CLT20 was an excellent concept for making money and honing their cricketing skills.
Asked what the players would take away from this tournament, Fleming said it gives them the opportunity to "take a break from international pressure" playing for their countries and also make them financially secure.
"It is an opportunity for us to enjoy being together. There are some IPL captains and they enjoy coming here playing in the tournament for two or three weeks. Wining tournaments like these make these players financially secure as well," Fleming said.
Further on the issue, Fleming said the organisers would love to include other countries for expansion of CLT20, but is not possible, considering crammed calender.
