The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering banning its players from participating in overseas T20 leagues, like the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the notable exception of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
According to reports, the ECB’s concerns are primarily centered around the increasing overlap between global T20 leagues and the domestic cricket season in England. The PSL, for instance, is scheduled to run from April to May next year, directly clashing with the County Championship.
Last season, 16 players from England participated in the PSL, and similar scheduling conflicts arose with other leagues. The board fears that these opportunities could entice more English cricketers to specialize in white-ball cricket, thereby diminishing the talent pool available for red-ball formats like the County Championship.
To address these concerns, the ECB is expected to introduce a policy requiring players to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from both their county and the ECB before participating in any overseas league during the domestic season.
County teams have expressed growing frustration over players utilizing their facilities and resources throughout the year, only to prioritize overseas leagues once the domestic season commences. Directors of cricket from several counties have urged the ECB to take decisive action, fearing that domestic competitions could become secondary to international franchise leagues.
The proposed policy, likely to be announced next week, would restrict players from joining overseas leagues during the English domestic summer, with the IPL being the sole exception. The IPL’s exemption is attributed to its established window in the international calendar and because of the political and financial influence, it has.
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