ICC's CEC rejects regulations to control franchise cricket despite full-members' drive

Earlier in June, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made a decision to implement immediate regulations to control franchise T20 leagues. The ICC's decision came after a few international cricketers chose to forego their national contracts in order to play in lucrative T20 leagues. 

The ICC's Chief Executives Committee (CEC) has now refused to implement any immediate restrictions to govern T20 competitions. Notably, the plans to restrict international cricketers' involvement in T20 leagues did not obtain a majority agreement at the meeting held in Durban on Tuesday, July 11, and the resolution was eventually turned down.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, sources close to the Annual Conference disclosed that the CEC will not hold any further discussions on the aforementioned matter, despite the fact that there is a necessity to impose regulations in these types of competitions.

With no resolution passed on Tuesday, it is a consolation for two specific leagues, the International League T20 (ILT20) in the United Arab Emirates and the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States of America. The ILT20, which kicked off in 2023, allows nine international players to feature in the playing XI, whereas the forthcoming MLC will make room for six foreign players. 

Notably, international cricket boards, such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI), had criticised these two leagues for their considerable participation with international cricketers. Both CWI and ECB were losing players to T20 franchise leagues frequently. English batter Jason Roy recently gave up his national contract to play in the MLC.

Notably, the CEC has decided to impose restrictions from April with the formation of a working committee in London. The committee recommended that no more than four foreign players be included in a team’s playing XI and that the home boards of each overseas player earn 10 per cent of their fee. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which conducts the Indian Premier League (IPL), sticks to both principles but is opposed to imposing restrictions on leagues.