Well, the problem is that trying for an elite level sport demands almost full attention from a young age usually. If you make it, great. If you don't, you might have essentially wasted a very important part of your life. I don't think they should be exempt either, but if you want elite sportsmen in any field, you'll have to have hundreds of these people making that sport their ultimate goal, and a few of them will get to the top. That comes hand in hand with any sport. Thing about cricket, unlike some other sports, is that even if you reach the absolute highest level, there is still a good chance that you won't make much money (unless you're in the top 3-4 countries), so you have something that requires 15 years of life at the highest level and absolute dedication, and just when everyone else is hitting their earning prime, you've got nothing except being able to bowl at 80mph. It won't buy you groceries.