Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: South Africa T20 League: Former Australian captain and IPL winner Adam Gilchrist is the latest to join the chorus against BCCI. He too has demanded that Indian players be allowed to play in foreign franchise leagues. BCCI has maintained a blanket ban on active male cricketers from playing in foreign leagues. Gilchrist argued that it won’t diminish IPL’s value. Rather, it will help other leagues grow as well. Follow Indian Cricket Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“No Indian plays in any other T20 league, why I feel it (Indian presence in other leagues) won’t diminish the IPL, it will only grow if they can play in Australia or South Africa,” Gilchrist said at a New South Wales Government event on Friday in Mumbai.
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Adam Gilchrist slams BCCI on IPL exclusivity, says ‘Indian players must be allowed to play foreign leagues’
“I am not saying this in a provocative sense, is that not a fair question? If there is a second IPL window — I believe that is the proposal — that is going to start encroaching more into international cricket. That is going to further damage the domestic tournaments in those countries, but India still won’t help them build their market. It doesn’t seem like a two-way street,” Adam Gilchrist said.
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Adam Gilchrist slams BCCI on IPL exclusivity, says ‘Indian players must be allowed to play foreign leagues’
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Will BCCI allow Indian players in foreign leagues?
- IPL franchises have requested BCCI to change its stance on Indian players in foreign leagues.
- As more and more franchise leagues are mushrooming, the Indian players remain in high demand.
- Six IPL franchises acquired all six teams in the newly established CSA T20 League.
- In UAE’s International t20 League, 4 owners out of 6 are IPL team owners.
- In CPL, three teams are partly or fully owned by IPL franchises.
- With that, BCCI is now under pressure to allow Indian active cricketers to play in such leagues.
- However, BCCI is not ready to budge on allowing the star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah or Rishabh Pant to play in such leagues.
- The BCCI is mulling allowing only non-contracted players or players who don’t feature in their states’ plans in domestic cricket.
- If that happens, many cricketers will be ready to play in foreign leagues as Indian domestic calendar has a huge 6-month gap.
- A decision is likely to be taken at the BCCI AGM in September.
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Adam Gilchrist slams BCCI on IPL exclusivity, says ‘Indian players must be allowed to play foreign leagues’
“I think the IPL is a wonderful addition to the cricketing landscape, I played six of them and I loved it. I don’t want to be reported as being anti-IPL. But why aren’t Indian players coming and playing in the Big Bash League, why only some leagues are accessing every player in the world,” Gilchrist argued.
“I understand the philosophy of the value the IPL gets is from its exclusivity (of Indian players) but is that balanced, even playing field for the health of the game globally? It is going to make a lot of money for the IPL, the franchise owners and certain players. Is it going to keep the game alive in other cricketing nations and that is the question for the ICC. We are talking dollars, aren’t we, as opposed to the game development,” he said.
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Adam Gilchrist slams BCCI on IPL exclusivity, says ‘Indian players must be allowed to play foreign leagues’
IPL franchises in foreign leagues:
- Mumbai Indians: CSA T20 League, UAE T20 League
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Caribbean Premier League, UAE T20 League, USA
- Rajasthan Royals: CSA T20 League, CPL
- Lucknow Super Giants: CSA T20 League
- Delhi Capitals: UAE T20 League, CSA T20 League
- Punjab Kings: CPL
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: CSA T20 League
- Chennai Super Kings: CSA T20 League
As for BCCI allowing Indian players, a call is going to be taken soon. After requests from IPL franchises, BCCI will discuss the idea at its AGM in September. Players without any central contract or fringe state players may be allowed to play in franchise leagues abroad.
“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 growing number of franchise leagues,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Indian Cricketers Foreign Leagues: Adam Gilchrist slams BCCI on IPL exclusivity, says ‘Indian players must be allowed to play foreign leagues’
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