BCCI has never allowed the Indian cricketers to participate in foreign T20 leagues like the BBL, CPL, The Hundred, and others. However, if reports are to be believed, the cricketing body is now open to the idea of giving the go-ahead to Indian players.
Recently, the owners of six IPL franchises bought teams in South Africa’s new T20 league. As a result, the Indian board has reportedly changed its stance after being pressurized by the IPL franchises.
According to a report published in Insidesport, a final decision will be taken at the board’s Annual General Meeting in September.
"Few IPL teams with a presence in leagues abroad have requested the 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 growing number of franchise leagues," a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
As per BCCI’s current rule, any Indian cricketer who has not announced formal retirement from all forms of the game — domestic and international — isn’t eligible to take part in any overseas T20 league that competes with the Indian Premier League.
Back in 2019, Yuvraj Singh called time on his international cricket career and then featured in the Global Canada T20 League and Abu Dhabi T10 League for Toronto Nationals and Maratha Arabians respectively.
On the other hand, BCCI has allowed its female cricketers to take part in overseas leagues.
The same report also suggests that even if the BCCI gives the go-ahead for Indian cricketers to feature in foreign leagues, India’s leading stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or any other centrally contracted players won’t be allowed to play.
"It’s good to see the growing footprints of IPL all over the world. But we should not forget that it is because of the Indian players that the IPL is so popular. It is the only league where fans can watch them play. If they start playing in other leagues, it will only increase the viewers’ fatigue. It won’t be exclusive anymore. But there is room for relaxation when it comes to not so popular players or cricketers who are not in the reckoning," the official said.
