The BCCI is contemplating allowing Indian players to participate in foreign leagues. While players from all over the world travel to India to participate in the IPL, current Indian men’s cricket stars cannot play any other league apart from IPL. With the IPL’s expanding impact in other nations, there is an enormous demand for Indian players. Therefore, BCCI is likely to give in to pressure from IPL franchises and let Indian players in international franchise competitions.
The cricketing board presently only allows female cricketers and former male players to actually participate in franchise leagues abroad. The cricketing board believes that if Indian players participate in foreign events, the IPL would lose its uniqueness. The BCCI AGM, which will take place in September, will address the matter.
Final decision is to be taken in September at BCCI AGM
A senior BCCI official said, “Few IPL teams with a presence in leagues abroad have requested BCCI to allow Indian players. But we have to discuss this at the AGM before coming to any conclusion. It is a contentious issue as IPL is successful because of the exclusivity it provides. Definitely, we won’t lose that. As for Indian players playing abroad, it may happen due to the growing number of franchise leagues.”
It’s not quite that simple, though. The BCCI may still forbid prominent Indian players or officially contracted Indian cricketers from taking part in such competitions. This means that except for the IPL, there won’t be any other T20 leagues that include big names like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. The news follows the purchase of each of the six teams in South Africa’s forthcoming league by IPL franchise owners. So, if BCCI gives the green signal, CSA T20 League will be the first one to feature Indian players outside of IPL.