BCCI, a governing body for cricket in India, will conduct a meeting with its members on 7th July. There are many agendas on the list. However, the top most is to work on a law to stop retired players from playing in overseas T20 leagues. The other purpose of holding a meeting is for key decisions to make before the ODI WorldCup in October 2023.
YouTube cc: @ICC
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plays a pivotal role in governing and promoting cricket in India. With its robust management, BCCI has successfully transformed Indian cricket into a global powerhouse. By implementing strategic policies and nurturing young talent, BCCI has consistently produced world-class cricketers. Moreover, it organizes high-profile tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL), captivating millions of fans worldwide. Through its visionary leadership and relentless efforts, BCCI continues to elevate the sport to new heights.
BBCI to hold an Apex board meeting regarding the trend of retirement in Indian cricket and playing in foreign T20 Leagues
As per the reports, the board has seen a trend in Indian players retiring and playing in foreign T20 leagues. Recently, Rayudu announced his retirement and has gone to represent a club in MLC Cricket. However, such a move has got the board thinking of a way to stop Indian players from going overseas.
Interestingly, not just Ambati but the likes of Yuvraj, Raina and even Robin Uthappa are a part of foreign leagues. BCCI plans to introduce a law to prevent retired Indian players from going abroad by enforcing a cool-off period. A cool-off period will allow the players to take a break before participating in any other franchise cricket.
Reacting to the news, one of the franchise owners said, “If the board brings in a cap on players to not play in other leagues, then their playing years would anyway be over if they have to wait for a certain period after retiring.”
Why does the Indian Board not allow its players to participate in other foreign leagues?
If you are an avid fan of Indian cricket, you must be aware of a clause that an Indian player cannot participate in any foreign leagues until they are under a contract with BCCI. The sole purpose behind this is to maintain the glam of the homegrown T20 tournament IPL. IPL is one of the biggest T20 leagues in the world, the reason being the presence of the top Indian player.
There is a lot of money at stake, and BCCI wishes to refrain from taking a chance with the revenue it generates from it. If the Indian players go on to play for other leagues, it will affect the monopoly of IPL and reduce the bargaining power of BCCI. Indian players are the biggest box office attractions, and BBCI can’t take a chance on that.
READ MORE: IPL: The Biggest Cricketing Event in the World
If BCCI bars retired players from participating in foreign leagues even for a short span, then not much of cricket would be left in them. However, as per speculations, this move might signal the players on the verge of retirement to hang their boots once they decide to leave Indian cricket.
