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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to let Indian cricketers to participate in foreign leagues in the offing. Reportedly, after maintaining a stern protocol of not giving green signal to active players to play overseas leagues, their strict policy is likely to change now. However, the final call will be taken at its AGM 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.
Currently, only Indian female cricketers are allowed to participate in the overseas leagues, and a few retired male cricketers have also featured in foreign competitions. But any active Indian male player’s participation is strictly prohibited. The BCCI believes if Indian players play in foreign leagues, the IPL will lose its exclusivity.
The BCCI official said the board will provide relaxation to those players who aren't popular or are in the reckoning for Team India.
"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 BCCI official added.
Meanwhile on Friday (July 22) it was announced that two Indian fast bowlers, Chetan Sakariya and Mukesh Choudhary, will ply their trade in the inaugural edition of the T20 Max series starting next month.
Both Sakariya and Choudhary represented Indian Premier League sides Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings respectively in the past and will spend time in Brisbane as part of an exchange programme between MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia.
