ICC caps number of overseas players allowed in a playing XI in T20 leagues

The ICC Annual General Meeting (AGM) concluded in Durban on July 13, 2023.

The ICC has approved a cap of four overseas players - active or retired - and seven local players, which can include Associate players, for all new T20 leagues.

The new regulation was voted in by cricket's chief executives, though not without hiccups after intense deliberations over two days in Durban, where the ICC's AGM ended on Thursday.

An ICC working group that was entrusted with fighting the player drain that some Full Members anticipated from the proliferation of T20 competitions, especially in non-Full Member countries, made the recommendation to limit the number of foreign players in a league last year.

The original working group plan, which called for a minimum of four local players in all leagues and a cap on the number of overseas players at four, was actually defeated 8–6 on Tuesday when the ICC's chief executives committee (CEC) met for the first time.

The CEC met again on Wednesday to discuss a revised recommendation after continuing their deliberations.  All new T20 competitions have a limit of four foreign players per XI, although they can list Associate players as locals to give them exposure and help cricket spread to other developing nations.

The host T20 board will also have to pay a "solidarity fee” to the host board for availing services of their players

For now, the ruling will not initially affect existing tournaments such as the UAE-based International League T20 (ILT20), the US's Major League Cricket (MLC), and Canada's Global T20 (GLT20), all of which allow more than four overseas players in the playing XI.

However, within a reasonable amount of time, these leagues will be required to abide by those restrictions.

"Moving forwards, new events requiring a sanction will need to ensure the playing XI of each team will include a minimum of seven local or associate member players to support the development of the game. Additionally, a solidarity fee will be payable from the organizing member to the home board of a player to reflect the role the member played in developing and promoting the sport globally,” the ICC statement read.

The ILT20 and MLC, permit nine and six foreign players in their starting XIs, respectively. The Global T20 permits 5 international players from Full Member nations, a minimum of three homegrown players, and the rest coming from Associates and the Americas.

Apart from this, The host T20 board will also have to pay a "solidarity fee", which, in simple words, is a commission to the home board of an overseas player.