While we see new franchise tournaments getting announced on a year-by-year basis, one league towers above all others like a colossus: the Indian Premier League (IPL). Recent developments by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have once again underscored the IPL’s unparalleled status in world cricket. But it is highly worrying news for the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
While other leagues scramble for relevance, the IPL remains the ultimate destination for global cricket talent. Weather it is for the money or the immense competition, IPL is the final destination for most of the global T20 talents.
ECB bans players to play leagues other than IPL?
The ECB’s new guidelines are crystal clear. Players with first-class cricket contracts are barred from participating in leagues like the Pakistan Super League and Sri Lanka Premier League. But when it comes to the IPL? It’s a different story altogether.
English players continue to have a free pass to the most glamorous cricket league on the planet, provided they are picked. At the IPL 2025, there will be 12 English players who will participate. Last season alone, 74 ECB-qualified players participated in various franchise tournaments, with the IPL being the crown jewel. Richard Gould, ECB’s chief executive, explained the move: “Our policy provides clear guidelines for players and counties. We’re striking a balance between player opportunities and protecting domestic cricket’s integrity.”
The ECB’s latest guidelines dramatically limit player involvement in concurrent cricket tournaments. The most significant changes include:
- Strict restrictions on players with first-class cricket contracts participating in multiple leagues
- Tightened No Objection Certificate (NoC) processes
- Specific exemptions for white-ball-only contract players
Leagues Hit by New Restrictions
The policy substantially impacts several international tournaments, including:
- Pakistan Super League (PSL)
- Sri Lanka Premier League
- Other concurrent T20 competitions
