ICC Plans to limit foreign players’ participation in T20 Leagues - Reports

ICC plans to have the leagues pay the boards as well for the services of their players.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly been planning to limit the participation of foreign players in the T20 leagues around the world in a bid to curb the growing influence of the huge money leagues that are mushrooming everywhere in the world.

The Indian Premier League was the first T20 league that began in 2008, to go successful and that gave rise to the Big Bash League, the T20 Blast, The Pakistan Super League, and the Hundred, and now every country has its own T20 competition.

These T20 competitions demand a huge influx of foreign players who are the major attractions for local cricket fans. This has led to many players quitting the central contracts of their countries and going full-time free agents playing in the T20 leagues across the world.

As per a FICA report in 2022, "49% would consider rejecting a central contract if they were paid more to play in domestic leagues".

ICC plans to limit 4 foreign players in playing XI in T20 leagues

As per the Telegraph UK report, International Cricket Council is set to introduce two changes, including placing a limit on the number of overseas players franchises can sign. 

The majority of the current leagues, like the Indian Premier League and the Lanka Premier League, who currently have that restriction in place, will not be impacted by the ICC's proposed restriction of four foreign players in a starting XI.

However, it would have an influence on the International League T20 event in the United Arab Emirates, which permits up to nine foreign players per club, and the soon-to-be-started Major League Cricket tournament in the United States, which would allow six players per starting XI.

Also, Leagues would be required to pay the national boards for each player they sign in addition to limiting the number of foreign players.

This would mean that the other franchise leagues would need to give national boards 10 percent of the fee they will pay each player, an arrangement already in place in the Indian Premier League. 

The modifications, which would limit possibilities to participate in the franchise leagues, are expected to discourage players from making the decision that England's Jason Roy did last month to quit playing international cricket in order to play in the franchise league.  

It is suggested that the restriction on international players only apply to those from the 12 Full Members, thereby enabling leagues in developing nations to add more spaces for Associate players.