ICC to limit overseas players at T20 franchise leagues

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly planning to implement two changes to curb the influence of franchise cricket leagues. The first change would involve limiting the number of overseas players that franchises can sign. 

 

 

The ICC intends to impose a limit of four overseas players in a starting XI, which would not affect leagues like the Indian Premier League and the Lanka Premier League, as they already have this limit. 

 

 

However, it would impact leagues such as the United Arab Emirates International League T20 tournament, which allows up to nine overseas players per team, and the upcoming Major League Cricket tournament in the United States, which would allow six per starting XI.

 

 

The second change proposed by the ICC would require franchise leagues to pay national boards a fee for each player they sign. This arrangement is already in place in the Indian Premier League, where 10 per cent of the player's fee is given to the respective national board.

 

 

These changes aim to discourage players from retiring from international cricket to participate in franchise leagues exclusively. Limiting franchise league opportunities, the ICC hopes to retain players' focus on international cricket. 

 

 

The limit on overseas players would likely only apply to players from the 12 Full Members, allowing leagues in emerging countries to create additional slots for Associate players.